Dr Doreen Kartinyeri

Dr Doreen Kartinyeri was an outstanding example of a person who overcame the lack of earning formal education to become a valued contributor in Australia to the study of Aboriginal History and Family Genealogy. After spending her early years at the Aboriginal Missions at Point McLeay and Point Pearce she developed an interest in recording the genealogies of Aboriginal families living in those areas and received a Commonwealth grant to develop this work in conjunction with the University of Adelaide. This work has continued to expand and has included: being granted limited access to the Tindale papers: a unique collection of Aboriginal genealogies and photographs; preparing material for an Aboriginal Culture in South Australia exhibition at the South Australian Museum; research with the Aboriginal Research Unit attached to the Geography Department, University of Adelaide; preparing a number of family genealogies for publication; setting up an Aboriginal family history project at the South Australian Museum; delivering papers at various conferences organised by the Conference of Museum Anthropologists, and the Royal Anthropological Society of South Australia. Much of this research was funded by the Federal Government and various Australian universities. Doreen has also conducted a number of genealogy and family history workshops with the University of South Australia, the Department of Technical and Further Education and the Royal Anthropological Society of South Australia with presentations in many of the major cities of Australia. She has also been a guest lecturer since the 1970s at the three South Australian universities. Her publications have been numerous and constitute an invaluable addition to the history of South Australia. 

Dr Doreen Kartinyeri was recognised for her work by an Honorary Doctorate from the University of South Australia in 1995, the Prime Minister's Centenary Medal in 2002, and other awards. The Acting Dean of the Faculty of Aboriginal and Islander Studies, Associate Professor MaryAnn Bin-Sallik presented Ms Doreen Kartinyeri for the Honorary Degree of Doctor of the University.