Uncle Dennis Fisher

Uncle Dennis Fisher, also known as ‘Den the Fish’, is a Wakka Wakka man born in Maryborough, Queensland. Uncle Den, was raised at the Cherbourg Aboriginal Settlement with his 7 sisters and 2 brothers. Cherbourg is now an Aboriginal Shire Council, but throughout the 1900s, hundreds of Aboriginal people from Queensland and northern New South Wales were forcibly relocated and interned there. Uncle Den worked in the dairy at the Cherbourg Aboriginal Training Farm from the age of 10.

By the 1980s, Uncle Den was living in Sydney. A friend had heard that there were jobs in Melbourne, and he and 3 mates moved down south together. At first he lived in share houses in Fitzroy and Frankston. Uncle Den has lived and worked around Melbourne ever since and now calls Port Melbourne home.

Uncle Den is deeply committed to the survival of Aboriginal culture. He faced many obstacles in life, but he believes in walking the path that his ancestors set for him. A sense of humour and commitment to truth-telling make Uncle Den a powerful advocate for reconciliation.

Uncle Den has always worked hard. For many years he worked at 3 different jobs every day. He would work one job in the morning, then go to his job as a guide at the Royal Botanic Gardens Victoria before finishing his day at the radio station.

Uncle Den was involved in the early days at 3KND Kool 'N' Deadly community radio station. 3KND is Victoria’s first Indigenous owned and managed radio station. 3KND started officially broadcasting full-time in 2003, on 23 June, Uncle Den’s birthday. For over 20 years, he was the weekday drive time host of ‘Mixing it with Den the Fish’. Uncle Den says that working at 3KND healed him and was one of the best things he has ever done.

Uncle Den is the longest serving Aboriginal Heritage Guide at the Gardens. Since 2010, Uncle Den has shared his stories and knowledge about heritage, culture and Country. The Gardens estimates that Uncle Den has taught more than 35,000 visitors during his time at the Gardens. His ability to connect people with the land and its First Nations heritage fosters deeper understanding and respect for First Nations cultures. Uncle Den says his work at 3KND was the cake and his work at the Gardens is the icing on the cake.

In 2023, Uncle Den launched a case to sue the Australian Government. Uncle Den argued that he should have been eligible to receive the pension at the age of 64 rather than 67 because of his shorter life expectancy. The case said that First Peoples should be able to access the pension at least 3 years earlier, to acknowledge the shorter life expectancy experienced by Aboriginal men especially.

The Court dismissed the case, but it brought attention to the failure of the Closing the Gap policy. Despite the outcome, Uncle Den highlighted the need for systemic change to improve health outcomes for First Peoples.

The Port Phillip Citizens for Reconciliation is a community group founded in 1997. Uncle Den has been the Co-Chair and a driving force behind the group since it started. He has worked with Traditional Owners, Elders and community partners to build dialogue, social cohesion and reconciliation, particularly through events like National Sorry Day. Uncle Den says that he didn’t know what reconciliation was until he saw the Port Philip group holding an Aboriginal flag one day. He has been part of that community working for justice ever since.

Uncle Den’s advocacy for cultural understanding extends to his poetry, where he uses irony and humour to expose injustices and raise awareness about the ongoing struggles faced by First Nations people. He started writing poetry when he was reading letters to the editor published in newspapers in the 1990s and 2000s, taking words and ideas that were used against Aboriginal people at the time to make a point about truth-telling. Uncle Den believes that we should all learn those parts of Australian history and speak the truth from our heart.

Uncle Den was a young man when he went to Tranby Aboriginal College in the 1980s. At Tranby, he learned how to read and spell with the help of a tutor. When he was in Melbourne, Uncle Den went to RMIT and kept learning how to read and write. He also studied performance and had acting training, sometimes performing in theatre shows around Melbourne.

Uncle Den’s belief in the spirit and power of First Peoples is evident in his daily work over many years. He has given testimony for truth-telling at the Yoorrook Justice Commission. Uncle Den also continues to support Indigenous Hospitality House in Carlton, which provides accommodation for First Nations people visiting Melbourne for hospital treatment.

Whether it is through his cultural tours, radio show or eldership more widely, Uncle Den lives his values. He believes that the land is central to his identity and that understanding the history of First Peoples is key to reconciliation. His contributions continue to inspire and empower people to engage in reconciliation and create positive change.

As an Elder, Uncle Den embodies the values of kinship, community and culture. His faith journey, learned through his mother, continues to be a source of strength and community.

Through his long-standing involvement in community and his personal dedication, Uncle Den has made an undeniable impact on both the First Nations community and the wider Victorian community. His efforts have led to greater cultural understanding and an ongoing commitment to justice and truth.

Uncle Den gives everyone the chance to have a greater cultural understanding and respect for First Nations knowledge. Uncle Den is a staunch advocate for truth-telling. He says to remember that you can’t fix every problem, but you should still have a good laugh along the way.