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Jimmy Little legacy honoured with plaque in Walgett
by rhonda hagan Jimmy Little has been acknowledged once again after a plaque was unveiled at Trevallian Park in Walgett, his place of rest, on the first anniversary since he passed away. An old friend of Uncle Jimmy’s, Clarence Ormsby, thought a plaque in honour of Jimmy Little would be a great idea. Mr Ormsby, a Korowai Maori from New Zealand, told the First Nation Telegraph he met Uncle Little in the early 1980s while on a holidays. “I wasn’t an entertainer when I met him, but he encouraged me to become a singer and cabaret artist,” Mr Ormsby said. “We became very good friends and he told me he and his wife, Marjorie had written a song called ‘Australia Downunder’ that he wanted to take
Franny Peters-Little beside the plaque honouring her parents, Jimmy and Marjorie Little at Trevallian Park in Walgett. Image supplied
to Vietnam - but he didn’t go over to entertain the troops,” he said. “I came up last year to pay my respect to him and we had parked our vehicle across the road, and as I was walking back from the cemetery, there were some big rocks and thought it would be nice to have a plaque on that rock for Jimmy Little.” Mr Ormsby wrote to the Walgett Shire Council to request permission to establish the plaque in Trevallian Park. After the Walgett Shire Council approved the application Mr Ormsby organised for the plaque to be made in Darwin before taking it to Walgett for the unveiling on the first anniversary of Uncle Jimmy’s passing on 2nd April. Uncle Jimmy’s daughter, Franny Peters-Little expressed her gratitude to Mr Ormsby and other people involved.
“I am entirely grateful to Clarence Ormsby and Lt. Col. James Newton for this completely generous honour,” Ms Peters-Little said. “The fact that it was unveiled on the first anniversary of Dad’s passing was especially healing for everyone involved.” As a mark of respect to the Little family, Mr Ormsby presented Ms Peters-Little with the cloak as a gift from his family. Ms Peters-Little said: “I am also particularly honoured to have been able to wear the Korowai Maori Cloak for the occasion and would like to give my special thanks and acknowledgement to the local Vietnam Vets and the Walgett Shire Council, as well as the Dharriwaa Elders Group and members of the Simpson and Beale families.”
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