Jack O'Chin

Andrew O'Chin, known primarily as Jack O'Chin, (28 August 1917 - 24 August 1978) was an Aboriginal community leader and rugby league football player who spent much of his life in Cherbourg, Queensland.

He was a member of the Cherbourg Community Council for many years and served on numerous Queensland Government committees including the Queensland Citizens’ Committee for the Captain Cook Bicentenary and the Relics Advisory Committee to the Department of Aboriginal and Islander Affairs. He was later fostered by Lizzie Thomas. In 1937, was described as ‘the best full-back in the country’.

Career After completing his training O'Chin primarily worked as a carpenter and remained at Cherborg except for a brief period spent cutting sugar can near Ingham during World War II and another brief period at Woorabinda Aboriginal Settlement.

During the 1950s O'Chin also campaigned for the increased recognition and support for Aboriginal arts and artists and, as a part of this, helped establish an artefact industry within the community which included a boomerang factory.

In 2011 a boomerang made by O'Chin in the 1930s or 1940s was purchased by the Queensland Museum. This boomerang features the images and names of two Aboriginal sportsmen Frank Fisher and Eddie Gilbert to honour them.