Bob Munn with a carved emu egg. He received the egg at the 2008 World Indigenous People's Conference on Education in Melbourne for his contribution to Indigenous education. He was one of 16 people presented with an egg, mounted on a base with the inscription 'Respected Person'. This photograph is shown here with the permission of the family.
Sad loss to Indigenous education
Former public servant Robert John ‘Bob’ Munn, who received world-wide honour in 2008 for his contribution to Indigenous education, passed away on 28 July after a short battle with cancer.
Born in September 1951, Bob’s early years were spent at The Yumba in Mitchell and in camps along the Warrego River in Charleville. He attended Slade School in Warwick as a boarder, where he completed Year 12 in 1970.
Bob had a distinguished public service career. He worked for the Department of Aboriginal Affairs in Townsville and Canberra, and for the Public Service Board and the Commonwealth Schools Commission, also in Canberra.
In 1990 he moved to Roma, where he worked for the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Commission.
From 1992 he was Deputy Director at the Centre for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Participation, Research and Development at James Cook University in Townsville.
From 1995 he worked with the Nalingu Aboriginal Corporation in Roma, and was Chair of the Ministerial Advisory Council for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Education.
Bob worked with his own Gungarri people to lodge the first native title claim in the South West Region.
He helped establish the business and strategic plans for the Charleville and Western Areas Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Community Health. He also helped draft and negotiate the Cultural Heritage Act, 2003.
Bob’s last position, from July 2004, was as the South West Queensland Cultural Heritage Coordinator.
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Last reviewed: 5 November, 2009
Last updated: 5 November, 2009
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