Uncle Harry Stewart

Uncle Harry Stewart is a proud father, grandfather and Elder of the Gunaikurnai people. He was born in Orbost. He and his 2 sisters, Madge and Mavis, grew up in a tin and canvas shack along the Snowy River with around 40 other Aboriginal families who lived along the river at Orbost. He started working in a sawmill at the age of 13 and remembers using his pocket money to buy marbles and lollies.

Uncle Harry remembers visiting the Bete Bolong Prisoner of War (POW) camp at Orbost, which held Italian prisoners during World War 2. Uncle Harry would walk over to the POW camp and make friends with people held here. One of his best friends was a teenage prisoner called Big Louie who would give Harry chocolate from his rations. They had a lifelong friendship.

Uncle Harry worked his way around Gippsland over the next 20 years. This included a long time building main roads in the area with the Country Roads Board. Uncle Harry also served in the army reserve with the Citizen Military Forces and did his training at Puckapunyal.

Uncle Harry met his wife Liz in 1967 and they raised their family in Bairnsdale. They also ran a hostel where children from Lake Tyers would stay when they came to Bairnsdale for school during the week. Uncle Harry ran a construction company that helped young people get licences to work with machinery and equipment. He has been a part of many organisations and initiatives to help create opportunities for work, culture and community in the Bairnsdale area.

At 84 years old, Uncle Harry continues to demonstrate his commitment to culture in the Aboriginal community around Bairnsdale. His work reflects the depth of his wisdom, love for his people, and unwavering dedication to preserving and sharing Aboriginal culture.

Uncle Harry has a great sense of humour and is always putting a smile on people’s faces. He is funny, generous and kind. He loves his culture and is focussed on making sure the next generation has opportunities to learn language and tradition. He is also a big country music fan, a keen singer and a guitar player. He started the Bairnsdale Country Music Club in 1999. Once, he and Liz visited Nashville, Tennessee and he convinced the manager to let him on stage at the Grand Ole Opry to sing a few songs in front of the audience.

Uncle Harry is a long-standing advisor to the Gippsland and East Gippsland Aboriginal Cooperative (GEGAC). He attends Koori Court sessions at the Bairnsdale Magistrates’ Court to provide cultural advice. As an Elder, he works with young men in the court system, sharing his wisdom and offering guidance to help them better understand their cultural identity. His presence in court plays an essential role in supporting people and families as they navigate the justice system.

Uncle Harry visited prisons to sit with young men who were incarcerated well into his 80s, offering support and guidance as part of his commitment to helping them reconnect with their cultural roots. His work with these young men was rooted in his belief that understanding one's identity and culture is essential for long-term rehabilitation and personal growth.

Uncle Harry's passion for community service goes beyond his work with GEGAC. He was also a founding member of Warrigunya, a Gippsland-based Aboriginal not-for-profit organisation. Warrigunya provides support for men after they are released from prison, helping to strengthen their cultural identity and community connection. Uncle Harry also served as a director of Warrigunya for 2 years, contributing to the design and planning of the organisation's new facilities to ensure they reflected local cultural values.

Uncle Harry believes that including cultural programming in schools is an important part of making sure that Aboriginal culture and language is respected and celebrated. In addition to his work in the courts, Uncle Harry has a long-standing history of engagement with local schools and kindergartens in East Gippsland. For over 20 years, he worked 3 days a week visiting East Gippsland schools and early childhood services to teach children about culture through storytelling, art and craft activities. Uncle Harry’s commitment to supporting education in this way has had a profound impact on local schools and kindergartens.

Throughout his life, Uncle Harry has been a role model and a source of guidance to many. Passing on cultural knowledge and practices are an important part of his legacy. He particularly enjoys taking part in ‘Welcome Baby to Country’ events, where he sits alongside other Elders and presents new babies with cultural gifts.

As one of the most senior Elders still active in his community, Uncle Harry’s role as a mentor, advocate and cultural leader has been instrumental in preserving and strengthening Aboriginal culture in East Gippsland. His work in the justice system, in education and in local community initiatives has made a lasting difference. Uncle Harry’s life exemplifies the power of culture and community, and of taking care of those around you.