Jimmy Clements
Encyclopedia
Jimmy Clements was an Aboriginal elder from the Wiradjuri
tribe in Australia
, and was present at the Opening of the Provisional Parliament House
in Canberra
on 9 May 1927.
He was also known as "King Billy" and also by Nangar or Yangar.
Clements and another Wiradjuri man, John Noble, had walked for nearly a week over the mountains from Brungle Mission
near Gundagai, New South Wales
. The two men were the only indigenous people to attend the first opening of parliament. Clements was initially told to move on by police at the ceremony due to his attire but due to popular support from other members of the crowd he was among prominent citizens who were presented to the Duke
and Duchess of York
(later King George VI and Elizabeth the Queen Mother).
Clements died at the age of 80 in Queanbeyan, New South Wales
near Canberra. The newspaper report noted that he was buried in Queanbeyan cemetery 'outside consecrated ground' (indigenous Australians were not buried in consecrated ground at the time).
Wiradjuri
The Wiradjuri are an Indigenous Australian group of central New South Wales.In the 21st century, major Wiradjuri groups live in Condobolin, Peak Hill, Narrandera and Griffith...
tribe in Australia
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
, and was present at the Opening of the Provisional Parliament House
Old Parliament House, Canberra
Old Parliament House, known formerly as the Provisional Parliament House, was the house of the Parliament of Australia from 1927 to 1988. The building began operation on 9 May 1927 as a temporary base for the Commonwealth Parliament after its relocation from Melbourne to the new capital, Canberra,...
in Canberra
Canberra
Canberra is the capital city of Australia. With a population of over 345,000, it is Australia's largest inland city and the eighth-largest city overall. The city is located at the northern end of the Australian Capital Territory , south-west of Sydney, and north-east of Melbourne...
on 9 May 1927.
He was also known as "King Billy" and also by Nangar or Yangar.
Clements and another Wiradjuri man, John Noble, had walked for nearly a week over the mountains from Brungle Mission
Brungle, New South Wales
Brungle is a village community in the central east part of the Riverina region, New South Wales, Australia. It is situated by road, about 13 kilometres south east from Gundagai and 20 kilometres north east from Tumut...
near Gundagai, New South Wales
Gundagai, New South Wales
Gundagai is a town in New South Wales, Australia. Although a small town, Gundagai is a popular topic for writers and has become a representative icon of a typical Australian country town...
. The two men were the only indigenous people to attend the first opening of parliament. Clements was initially told to move on by police at the ceremony due to his attire but due to popular support from other members of the crowd he was among prominent citizens who were presented to the Duke
George VI of the United Kingdom
George VI was King of the United Kingdom and the Dominions of the British Commonwealth from 11 December 1936 until his death...
and Duchess of York
Elizabeth Bowes-Lyon
Elizabeth Angela Marguerite Bowes-Lyon was the queen consort of King George VI from 1936 until her husband's death in 1952, after which she was known as Queen Elizabeth The Queen Mother, to avoid confusion with her daughter, Queen Elizabeth II...
(later King George VI and Elizabeth the Queen Mother).
Clements died at the age of 80 in Queanbeyan, New South Wales
Queanbeyan, New South Wales
Queanbeyan is a regional centre in the Southern Tablelands in south-eastern New South Wales adjacent to the Australian Capital Territory. The city's mixed economy is based on light construction, high technology, manufacturing, service, retail and agriculture. It is the council seat of the...
near Canberra. The newspaper report noted that he was buried in Queanbeyan cemetery 'outside consecrated ground' (indigenous Australians were not buried in consecrated ground at the time).