[gtranslate]
News

Uncle Jack Charles is to be farewelled at Victorian state funeral

Uncle Jack will long be remembered for being an advocate for truth-telling, using his life experiences and love of theatre to educate Australians, and dedicating his life to healing our nations. 

Storyteller, actor, and avid campaigner for righting the wrongs of past government policies on his community, revered Aboriginal elder Uncle Jack Charles is to be given a state funeral.

Uncle Jack Charles, from Boon Wurrung, Dja Dja Wurrung, Woiwurrung and Taungurung died at the age of 79 earlier this month after suffering a stroke. 

uncle jack funeral state
Credit: Twitter

Forever known now as the “father of black theatre” Uncle Jack co-founded Nindethana, Australia’s first Aboriginal-run theatre group in 1971. Which was pivotal to his work, as a means to both heal and share the painful and personal truths he experienced as a youth. A member of the Stolen Generations, Uncle Jack was taken from his family by the state when he was just four months old.

With a career that spanned decades, it was with the award-winning 2008 documentary Bastardy, that he gained wider public recognition for his work, both on the boards, and within the community.

The Victorian government has confirmed the state funeral will be held at the prestigious Hamer Hall theatre on October 18th.

The service will be streamed into prisons and remand centers to recognise Uncle Jack’s work with the justice system. The funeral will also be live streamed, with tickets to be released soon.