Vale Uncle Albert Mullet
Uncle Albert Mullet (Photo credit: Cam Cope).
It is with sadness that the Monash community and Victorian Aboriginal communities have learnt of the passing of Uncle Albert Mullet.
Uncle Albert, a respected Gunai/Kurnai Elder, was a community councillor at the Gippsland Institute of Advanced Education in the late `80s. Dedicated to providing opportunities for Indigenous students, he was pivotal in helping to establish the first Aboriginal Studies course in Victoria at Monash Gippsland.
Growing up in an era when Aboriginal people lived controlled lives in missions, Uncle Albert worked at picking beans, cutting wood and other seasonal jobs. He passed on the knowledge he gained from these experiences in the bush with elders to younger generations through his work in schools, and with camps, dance groups and educational committees.
He helped to improve young Aboriginal people's sense of identity and self-esteem, and increased awareness and understanding of Aboriginal issues among non-Indigenous people.
Uncle Albert was a spokesperson for Aboriginal education, a keeper and teacher of Aboriginal culture, a fighter for land rights and conservation, a craftsman, a storyteller, and a well-respected Elder for both Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal people. His legacy will benefit the generations to come.
The Monash community fondly remembers Uncle Albert as a man of great strength, integrity and knowledge, and recognises his lasting impact on staff and students.