Alitya Rigney

Alitya (Alice Dorothy) Wallara Rigney , née Richards, (27 November 1942 – 13 May 2017), also knowns as Aunty Alice, was an Australian Aboriginal scholar. She was a Kaurna elder and part of the team that revived the Kaurna language.

Early life and education Alitya (Alice Dorothy) Wallara Richards was born on 27 November 1942 at the Aboriginal Mission at Point Pearce, South Australia. She returned to Point Pearce following her schooling and training as a nurse, married and raised her family there.

In 2002, along with Kaurna elder Lewis Yerloburka O'Brien and linguist Rob Amery, Rigney was a co-founder of Kaurna Warra Pintyanthi at the University of Adelaide, which observes and promote the development of the Kaurna language.

Recognition Rigney was awarded a Public Service Medal in 1991.

In 1998 she was awarded an honorary doctorate by the University of South Australia in recognition of her pioneering contribution to Aboriginal education.

In 2000 she was appointed a panel member of the S.A. Guardianship Board.

In 2017, Rigney was awarded the Gladys Elphick Perpetual Award, a lifetime award in the Gladys Elphick Awards.

Flags at UniSA were flown at half-mast following her death.

Death, family, and legacy Rigney died in Adelaide on 13 May 2017, a day after her husband Lester was buried on their birth country at Point Pearce.

Their three children all have roles in education: Lester-Irabinna Rigney is a professor of education at UniSA, Eileen Wanganeen is a teacher and education leader, and Tracey Ritchie is a principal Aboriginal consultant at the Department of Education and Child Development.