AustLit

Elaine Newchurch was the younger sister of Irene Agius and the granddaughter of Barney Waria. Elaine belonged to the Ngadjuri, Ngarrindjeri, Narungga and Adnyamathanha people. She spent most of her life advocating on behalf of her people and teaching them about their history. She was a long-standing board member on the Aboriginal Lands Trust and many other committees including, the South Australian Aboriginal Heritage Committee and the Point Pearce Aboriginal Community Council. Elaine was also a key player in the establishment of the Point Pearce Housing Association and the TAFE campus on Point Pearce. As a supporter and attendee of the Point Pearce Church she was instrumental in negotiating Indigenous Land Use Agreements on behalf of her people. She died in January 2011 and was laid to rest at the Point Pearce Cemetery.