Iris Burgoyne was born into Mirning-Kokatha heritage. Her name Yumadoo Kochallalya means white cockatoo. Born on Koonibba mission, South Australia she was the ninth child of twelve siblings.
While a child she helped with the hunting for food. When she was thirteen, she was taken away to do domestic service work. She worked for a policeman and his wife in Penong for three years, and for another family living in Woomera.
In 1957, Burgoyne met her future husband George in Port Lincoln, they were unable to have a public relationship due to the consorting laws at that time. A German, George left Germany as a young man fleeing Hitler's regime. Burgoyne and her husband had two children together, and he was sneaking into the reserve to see them. After the Consorting Act was changed, they were able to live together and had four children.
Burgoyne worked as a laundress, waitress and kitchen maid. At one point she tried to join the army because returned soldiers were able to get land. She was unable to join because in one of her medical tests she was found to be three months pregnant. Later on in life she fostered children.
