Dick Kimber Explained

Dick Kimber
Birth Date:1939
Birth Place:Freeling in South Australia
Birthname:Richard Glyn Kimber
Nationality:Australian
Spouse:Margaret Friedel
Children:Steve, Barbara
Occupation:Historian

Richard "Dick" Glyn Kimber (born 1939) is an Australian historian and author who has written extensively on the history, art, culture and wildlife of Central Australia. He has published several books, the best known of which is Man From Arltunga: Walter Smith, Australian Bushman (1986) as well as more than 100 articles and essays. He has also given public lectures[1] and made regular media appearances.[2] [3] Kimber is also a Member of the Order of Australia.

Early life

Kimber was born at Freeling in South Australia in 1939. He went to school in the Riverland area and Brighton and then attended the University of Adelaide and Adelaide Teacher's College.

Career

Throughout Kimber's career, his focus has been on historical research, Aboriginal art and culture, and wildlife. He has published several books, the best known of which is Man From Arltunga: Walter Smith, Australian Bushman (1986); this book tells the life story of Walter Smith and this book was based on hours of tape-recordings and shared travelling experiences between 1981 and 1983.

Kimber moved to Alice Springs in 1970 and taught English, history, social science and Aboriginal Studies at Alice Springs High School. In 1974 he became the first Sacred Sites Officer in the Northern Territory for the Sacred Sites Authority, before returning to teaching. From 1976 to 1978 he was the Papunya Tula Artists Coordinator and devised Aboriginal Studies materials for schools, after which he again returned to teaching. Beginning in 1976 Kimber undertook research and prepared submissions for land rights and native title claims for over twenty years, in a private capacity and for the Central Land Council and Ngaanyatjarra Council. During this time he also undertook research for the Australian Institute of Aboriginal And Torres Strait Islander Studies, the Department of Aboriginal Affairs, the Australian Heritage Commission and the Strehlow Research Centre, regarding locations of Aboriginal homelands and their needs, settlement history, and ownership of sacred objects. He researched the historical records of extinct and rare native fauna for the Conservation Commission of the Northern Territory and provided advice regarding the development of the Alice Springs Desert Park and issues relating to Aboriginal land ownership of various parks and reserves.[4]

From the mid-1990s, Kimber advised the National Museum of Australia,[5] Museum Victoria and the Northern Territory Museum regarding Aboriginal artefacts and cultural practices, access to Papunya Tula paintings that incorporated sacred elements, and the return of sacred objects to traditional custodians in central Australia. He continues to consult for Museum Victoria is association with the Strehlow Research Centre.

Since arriving in Central Australia Kimber has undertaken travels, discussions and other shared experiences with many Aboriginal people, primarily in the south-western Simpson Desert, western deserts of Central Australia and the deserts of Western Australia through to the Canning Stock Route, and in Alice Springs. He has privately researched significant historical figures in inland Australia, Australian language usage, and native fauna of the inland including birds, and made important contributions to the Australian Language Dictionary, the Australian Dictionary of Biography[6] and the Northern Territory Dictionary of Biography.[7] The National Library of Australia has established the RG Kimber Collection for his correspondence and records; these include his correspondences with David Nash (between 1979 - 2016) and Libby Robin (1999 - 2001).[8] [9]

Kimber was awarded an Order of Australia in 2001 for "services to the community through research projects and the recording of information of national interest in the areas of history, anthropology, Aboriginal art, ecology and land management practices in Central Australia".[10] Kimber was awarded a Doctor of Letters, Honoris Causa from the Charles Darwin University in 2006.[11] [12]

Personal life

Kimber married to scientist Margaret Friedel in 1975. He has two children Steve and Barbara. In 1980, Kimber resigned from the Education Department "becoming Alice Springs' first publicly acknowledged 'house-husband'" while continuing his active writing life.

He is passionate about Australia Rules Football, lifesaving as well as history. He was the foundation captain and coach of the Melanka AFL Football Club (now West Football Club).[13]

Works

External links

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Foyster . Scott . 19 September 2010 . Everyday anthropology . 29 May 2017 . Overland: Progressive culture since 1954.
  2. News: Maloney . Nadine . 2015 . Local historian Dick Kimber on John McDouall Stuart . 19 June 2017 . Australian Broadcasting Corporation . ABC Alice Springs.
  3. Web site: First Australians – Episode 4, No Other Law . 19 June 2017 . Australian Screen . National Film and Sound Archive.
  4. News: Finnane. Finnane. Dick Kimber: premier scholar of Central Australia. 29 May 2017. Alice Springs News online. 12 May 2017.
  5. Web site: 'Story of the Women's Camp'. National Museum of Australia. National Museum of Australia. 19 June 2017.
  6. Web site: Contributions by Kimber, R. G. . 2024-07-21 . Australian Dictionary of Biography.
  7. Book: Carment, David . Edward, Christine . James, Barbara . Maynard, Robyn . Powell, Alan . Wilson, Helen J . Northern Territory Dictionary of Biography . Revised . Charles Darwin University Press . 2008 . 10070/260154 . free . Territory Stories.
  8. Web site: Correspondence between Dick Kimber and David Nash, 1979-2016 - Catalogue National Library of Australia . 2024-07-19 . nla.gov.au . en.
  9. Web site: Correspondence between Dick Kimber and Libby Robin, 1999-2001 - Catalogue National Library of Australia . 2024-07-19 . nla.gov.au . en.
  10. Web site: The Queen's Birthday 2001 Honours. Governor-General of the Commonwealth of Australia. Commonwealth of Australia Gazette. 18 June 2017. 11 June 2001. https://web.archive.org/web/20150403153511/http://gg.gov.au/sites/default/files/files/honours/QB01.pdf. 3 April 2015.
  11. Web site: Prominent Central Australians to be honoured at CDU Alice Springs graduation. Charles Darwin University. 29 May 2017. 16 June 2006.
  12. Web site: Richard Glyn Kimber. Charles Darwin University. 29 May 2017.
  13. Web site: History of the West Football Club. The Bloods: West Football Club. 29 May 2017.