Lois Agius
Kaurna/Ngarrindjeri woman
Private
3rd/9th Light Horse (South Australian Mounted Rifles)
Australian Army Reserve 1981-83

 

I was born in Barmera, South Australia, in 1956, the third eldest of seven children. I am a single mother of one daughter, two grandchildren, one granddaughter-in-law and three great-grandchildren. My father is Robert (Bobby) Agius (deceased), and my mother is Jean Agius nee Taylor. I am the granddaughter of Charles Agius and Laura Agius nee Buckskin (both deceased) and Darcy Taylor and Sarah Taylor nee Giles (both deceased).

We were quite itinerant, moving from place to place along the Riverland and Point Pearce. Mum and Dad made the most of life working seasonally in orchards, fruit-picking and digging for potatoes for the farmers of the regions. Dad also worked on the railways. We had a tough, rough life but were happy and healthy. They always made sure we children had a good education and attended school no matter where we were. We lived mostly on fish from the river and rabbits. Mum would always have damper and scones for us. I went to the Barmera school for a short time, then Swan Reach Primary School, until we finally settled in Salisbury North. Dad got a job at the Holden factory in Elizabeth, and Mum worked at the Calypso factory in North Adelaide. At Salisbury North, I went to the Infants School, Primary School, and Salisbury North Technical High School on Waterloo Corner Road. After school, I found work at the local supermarket on the checkout before working with my older sister at Texas Instruments in Elizabeth. My sister and I then attended the South Australian Institute of Technology, where we studied with other Aboriginal people and took a Social Services course. From there, I went on to Stones Commercial College in Adelaide and learned typing, shorthand and other studies. After College, I had my daughter and started working as a secretary for two female lawyers in Elizabeth. I then worked as a legal secretary for the Aboriginal Legal Rights Movement (ALRM) before becoming an Aboriginal Liaison Officer at Centrelink. After Centrelink, I was employed by the Department for Correctional Services as a Correctional Officer from 2008 to 2018 and am currently retired. I played a lot of netball and am a Life Member of the Kaurna Football and Netball Club. I also played softball.

I was 25 years old when I decided to join the Army Reserve and was assigned to the transport division of 3/9 SAMR (South Australian Mounted Rifles) based in Smithfield, South Australia. Our uniforms had to be pressed with the creases running straight down the front of our trousers and dresses. Our brass had to gleam, and our shoes had to shine enough to reflect the sun. I drove Jeeps and trucks, delivering supplies, spare parts, and equipment to the army regulars in the field. I was trained in the use of the SLR (Self Loading Rifle) and, of course, all the army-issue equipment. I also had the privilege of witnessing a demonstration of ‘The FROG’, (an amphibious army tank) that could move to and from the water to the land. I had the chance to ride in an APC (Armoured Personnel Carrier) and have ridden in an Army chopper. With my commitment and determination, I soon gained the respect of my peers. Serving in the Army Reserve gave me mateship, teamwork, focus, and trust, which I incorporated into my future years.

As far as racism in the ADF, I did not personally experience any really negative attitudes towards me. However, once, whilst having a shower in the field, I asked for some soap and was thrown a bar of Solvol soap, meant for scrubbing clothes, not for human skin. I was saddened to hear that our Returned Aboriginal men and women were refused entry into the RSL. Thankfully, all that has changed now. I do know that quite a few of our Aboriginal servicemen and women have had very upsetting experiences whilst serving, and that has had a profoundly negative effect on their mental health and their lives, which continues to this very day. I didn’t win any awards or accolades during my service. I just did what I needed to do, ready to go wherever I may be needed and to be a part of the team on the ground and support our regulars in the field.

I stand and salute all past and present Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal people who serve our country Australia. Speaking of heroes, I would like to take this opportunity to pay homage to Mr Adam Goodes, one of the AFL greats, who I believe experienced the most disgraceful examples of racism on a very large scale. I salute you, Adam, for calling out racism here in Australia and for standing tall and proud.

I chose not to reenlist in the ADF because I had a higher calling, a more important fight closer to home – to stand with my family and all other Aboriginal peoples for our Land Rights in our own Country.