Dawn retires with a passion for the future

Dawn said she is very happy to be retiring after a lifetime of working a variety of jobs. Photo TWH

Story: Tricia Duffield

Dawn Smith would never admit it, but for many years, she has been a key figure in the battle for fairer outcomes for Aboriginal people in the NSW judicial system.

Dawn may have begun her working life as a cleaner, but at 83, she ends her career as a respected pioneer, working within the Aboriginal Legal Service from its very first days more than forty years ago.

Last week, Dawn retired after 21 years’ service as a Field Officer with the ALS, an organisation which now works on behalf of Aboriginal people across NSW, but which had its genesis right here in Brewarrina and Bourke.

Dawn said she decided to retire almost without warning following the recent passing of her longtime friend and co-worker, Noel Gillon.

“I just decided to retire, and did it on the spot,” Dawn said. “It came to me after Noel’s funeral. I walked into the office, typed up the form and sent it in, and the next minute I got a call from the boss bloke – ‘You’re retiring?’

“I said yes, and that it was time. It’s a great relief after all those years of hard work,” she said.

Dawn can look back at her working life and know she has contributed much to her community. She now wants to see those efforts passed on to the next generation, especially as the older generation passes on.

“I’ve learnt a lot about the legal system and our people,” Dawn said.  “The ALS has a big tradition here in Bourke – it’s where it all started, mostly by local people and most who have gone now – Tombo Winters, Essie Coffey, Steve Gordon and Felix Hooper from the Brewarrina area, plus Yvonne Howarth, Noel Gillon, Manny Ebsworth, Clancy McKellar and Loretta McKellar from Bourke. […]

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