Harry Allie AM BEM
Gudjula Elder
Retired Warrant Officer
Royal Australian Air Force
Inaugural Indigenous Elder of the Royal Australian Air Force 2012 -2021
Medals and Awards
Member of the Order of Australia AM (2023)
RSL ANZAC OF THE YEAR AWARD 2022
British Empire Medal (MD) (1980)
Australian Service Medal 1975 – 1989
Defence Service Medal
National Medal
Australian Defence Medal
Certificate of Outstanding Service (1972)
Elder Award, Indigenous Higher Education Advisory Council (2010)
UWS Community Award (2012)
Pauline McLeod Awards for Reconciliation (2013)
Citizen of the Year, Bankstown City Council (2014)
“I was born and grew up in the Charters Towers/Townsville area, and I am is a descendant of the Gudjala Tribal group. I still have close ties to the area, because I still have family living in the area.
After working for the Post Master General’s Department (PMG), I was inspired to join the military by my Uncles who had served in the services during WW1 and WW2 and also an Aunt who served in the Women’s Land Army. Because I felt I needed to improve my opportunities in life, I enlisted in the Royal Australian Air Force in 1966 at Townsville North Queensland. After serving for 23 ½ years at a number of units throughout Australia, the USA, and Malaysia, I applied for a discharge in 1989 and I completed my final years of service at units within the Sydney area.
After applying for discharge, I worked in the Defence Industry for 11 years, before joining the Commonwealth Public Service. I was employed in the Public Service for eight years, involved with Indigenous programs and issues. Before retiring in 2010, I was employed by the Department of Families Housing and Community Services and Indigenous Affairs in the Sydney Indigenous Coordination Centre.” – Uncle Harry Allie
The many roles adopted by Uncle Harry include having been the Chairperson of the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Advisory Committee for Canterbury Bankstown City Council and Management Committee of the Bankstown Community Resource Group. Uncle Harry was a Committee Member of the Nangahmi Ngallia Aboriginal Corporation, Coloured Diggers Projects and was the Chair of the NSW Indigenous Veterans Commemoration Service Coordinating Committee and a Committee Member of the NSW Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Veterans Services Association and Ambassador for NSW Anniversary of Gallipoli Council. Uncle Harry is also a member of the WSU Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Employment and Engagement Advisory Board.