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Flora Hoolihan (nee Illin) celebrates 100th birthday by Dr Ernie Hoolihan 16 October 2015
F
lora Hoolihan (nee Illin) born 2oth October 1915 in Peeramon, Atherton Tablelands in the heart of Ngadjonji country has a story to tell. Flora is the daughter of Leandro Illin, Russian man, who fled from Russia before the 1917 revolution, and Kitty Clarke, Ngandjonji woman of Atherton Tablelands, north Queensland. The Illin family first settled in Argentina, South America before coming to Australia and settling on the Atherton Tablelands with many other Russian migrants. This story is told by the author Elena Govor in her book ‘My Dark Brother’, and film documentary by Richard Dennison and Julie Nimmo “Pioneers of Love”. Flora has seen first hand the policies that effected Aboriginal people at this time. In the early stages of her parents relationship it was considered illegal for a white man to marry an Aboriginal person. They defied authorities and were married anyway. The protector at this time John Bleakley was against it no matter what Illin requested for as he was trying to do right thing by his Ngandjonji partner. They were eventually given permission by the then minister of the labor government. They went on to have five children in this marriage. Illins’ family went back to south America and settled in honduras where there are still descendants of Illin family still living in America, south America and Australia. Leandro was going to join them
Flora Hoolihan (nee Illin) with a special message from HRH Queen Elizabeth II. Image: Glenda Illin.
at the time but due to past policies and practices of the Australian government he was not allowed to take Flora’s brother out of the country. He remained in Australia where he eventually ended up working for the Aitkinson family on the Upper Burdekin river area where he brought his five children up after his wife Kitty died in childbirth. Whilst living in this area Flora
met Gugu Badhun man Richard Hoolihan, who she eventually married. This again was another fight for her personal life to marry someone of her own choosing because Richard Hoolihan was under the Protection Act and was considered property of the state and was not allowed to make these important decisions without government interference and permission.
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Leandro, Flora’s father, was a very active man in standing up to authorities in concern to Aboriginal people and alot of the migrant community such as Chinese, Italians, Greeks and anyone that was not given a fair go. He again lobbied to authorities for Richard to be exempted from the Act to be able to marry his daughter. Because he felt that if Richard was under the Act and then his children would be under the Act and he did not want this for his grandchildren. Richard eventually, after three tries, was exempted from the Act and married Flora in Ingham in 1932. They celebrated at the Central Hotel. Flora became the mother of four children; she stayed in the Stone River district for many years where she was a leaseholder of a property there.
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Images from promotional material of “My Dark Brother” and “Pioneers of Love” supplied by Ernie Hoolihan.
Her son Ernest remembers growing potatoes, watermelons, and corn to supplement their income and this became one of their
liveihoods. Richard at this time was working on Stoneleigh Station as he was a well known horse breaker in what today’s terms they call a horse whisperer. Richard was a stock worker and wages to workers at this time was either non existant or very
poor. Richard Hoolihan, Flora’s husband, eventually found freedom from the Act and was able to persue many occupations. He eventually found his passion in being an Australian workers union activist and this was one of the reasons why his exemption from under the Protection Act was delayed because authorities at that time said he would be a trouble maker and would only be a smart arse to them. Richard and Flora’s battle is very similar to many other Aboriginal people at this time in history. Flora eventually separated from Richard and lived on her own and ended up in Townsville where her eldest son, Ernest was working.
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Flora came to Townsville in the late 1950s. Richard also moved to Townsville at this time and though still separated they still functioned as a family. Seeing many of their grandchildren born here in Townsville, Mount Isa, and
Atherton Tablelands area. Richard became involved in many of the early stages of Aboriginal people’s self-determination in lobbying with government on better living conditions for all Aboriginal people. He was a member of - FCATSI, the Federal Council
of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders (who played a role in the 1967 referendum) - The Aboriginal Advancement League, - Trades and Labour Council and - The Communist Party (who he believed would be of assistance to his fight). His influence rubbed off on his son, Ernest Hoolihan and many of Townsville’s Aboriginal community organisations have been founded by Hoolihan along with his late wife’s and Flora’s support both morally and financially. The organisations with Flora’s influence are: - Yumba-Meta Housing Association, where Flora House is named in her honour. Founding and original board member. - TAIHS, Townsville Aboriginal and Islander Health Service. Founding member and original board member. - Townsville Aboriginal Legal Service. Founding and original board member. Flora will be celebrating with many of her family and friends on this day and her influence is seen all over this country through her many descendants. The family is having a private function and celebrating her many achievements with her. We are proud to announce that this Ngandjonji woman has seen alot in her 100 years and shows a positive outlook on life and still influences her many descendants.
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