Australia has lost another giant of the movement for reconciliation and First Nations justice with the passing of Aunty Shirley Peisley AM.

An Elder of the Ngarrindjeri / Boandik peoples Aunty Shirley was a decades-long campaigner. As a 25 year-old she joined the campaign for a Yes vote in the successful 1967 and became arguably one of the campaign’s key leaders.

Described as a trailblazer for her tireless efforts to win justice for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples, she was convinced of the importance of building personal relationships between First Nations people and other Australians, and became a strong advocate for the reconciliation movement.

She was Co-Chair of the City of Adelaide Reconciliation Committee (2002-2005), formed in 2002 with goals to advance reconciliation between Aboriginal and Torres Islander peoples and the wider city community.

Reconciliation Australia CEO, Karen Mundine said Aunty Shirley was a determined and loving woman with a contagious sense of humour and a huge heart.

“She was an incredible fighter and a mentor to me and many others who followed in her footsteps,” said Karen Mundine. “The last time I spoke with her was at the funeral of another giant South Australian Aboriginal woman, the great Lowitja O’Donoghue. I remember Aunty Shirley was as fiery as ever. She will be enormously missed.”

Aunty Shirley leaves a large family and Reconciliation Australia sends our deepest condolences to her children, grandchildren and other members of her family and her countless friends.

Vale Aunty Shirley Peisley.