Ted Williams (elder)

Ted Williams is an Aboriginal Australian elder of the Yugambeh people. He is known for his advocacy work with Yugambeh culture and various media appearances. In 2017, he launched the Queen's Baton for the 2018 Commonwealth Games alongside then Queen Elizabeth II and fellow elder Patricia O'Connor.[1]

Personal life

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Williams is a member of the Yugambeh people.[2] He is a descendent of local Aboriginals, William Williams and Emily Logan, the daughter of Bilin Bilin. William and Emily were Mununjali people employed by Australian politician Robert Martin Collins.[3] In 2021, Ted unveiled a renewed plaque for the Williams Memorial Stone at Tamrookum, which had originally been erected by his father, Cyril Williams[4]

Career

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Alongside students at Griffith University Williams worked to narrate a traditional story for the development of a digital game.[5] In 2017, he travelled to London as part of the official Queensland delegation,[6] where he launched the Queen's Baton for the 2018 Commonwealth Games alongside then Queen Elizabeth II and fellow elder Patricia O'Connor.[1] Williams and O'Connor called for unity amongst Yugambeh people during a public feud regarding the Commonwealth Games Mascot - Borobi.[2] Ted was present when Borobi was announced as the Australian Team mascot for the 2022 Commonwealth Games in Birmingham.[7] As Chair of the Yugambeh Region Aboriginal Corporation, Williams expressed the communities concern for the Indigenous employees of Dreamworld Corroboree and the materials on display in the precinct should the park not reopen the attraction.[8]

References

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  1. ^ a b "Indigenous elders to join London launch of Queen's baton relay". ABC News. 2017-03-06. Retrieved 2023-02-26.
  2. ^ a b Pierce, Jeremy (26 February 2017). "Aboriginal elders call for unity over Gold Coast Commonwealth Games". The Courier Mail. Retrieved 26 February 2023.
  3. ^ "William & Emily Williams | Monument Australia". monumentaustralia.org.au. Retrieved 2023-02-26.
  4. ^ "Remembering Aboriginal Pioneers". Yugambeh Museum. Retrieved 2023-02-26.
  5. ^ Crossen, Louise. "Students design educational games for Indigenous museum". news.griffith.edu.au. Retrieved 2023-02-26.
  6. ^ "Yugambeh elders carry the spirit of reconciliation to Buckingham Palace". Ministerial Media Statements. Retrieved 2023-02-26.
  7. ^ "Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Team Members History". commonwealthgames.com.au. 2022-05-16. Retrieved 2023-02-26.
  8. ^ "Dreamtime over at Dreamworld? Uncertain future for theme park's Indigenous stories". ABC News. 2020-07-27. Retrieved 2023-02-26.
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