Ted Egan, pictured in 2003.Credit: Julian Andrews
Bush balladeer, author, documentary presenter and former Northern Territory administrator Ted Egan has died in Alice Springs at the age of 93.
A legendary figure in the territory whose many music albums and books chronicled outback life, Egan is listed as one of Australia’s Living National Treasures by the National Trust of Australia.
He described himself as “an old bushy” who became “fascinated by Australian history, its unique people and the Australian way of life” after he left his birthplace of Melbourne for the territory at the age of 16.
As a singer-songwriter, his best-known songs reflected his longtime activism for Indigenous rights.
They include The Drover’s Boy, about a white drover mourning the death of a disguised Indigenous woman who was his beloved travelling companion, and Gurindji Blues, about Vincent Lingiari’s stand for land rights during the Wave Hills walk-off.
Egan’s family said he died this morning in his home town of Alice Springs.
Wife Nerys Evans and son Greg Egan told the ABC that he “lived a big and very generous life spanning 93 years. We will miss him enormously.”
In a statement, they said: “It is with sadness but also great pride that Nerys Evans and the Egan family mark the passing of our beloved partner, father, grandfather, great-grandfather and best mate.
“Ted passed peacefully at home this morning, as was his wish. We shared Ted with Territorians, Australians and the wider world.”