Undelya Apma

Undelya "Minnie" Apma (c.1909 – 14 August 1990) was a Arrernte domestic servant who was born at Horseshoe Bend Station in the Northern Territory of Australia.

As a young girl she was adopted by Herbert Basedow, in order to work within his household, and lived in Adelaide for much of her life.

Once in Alice Springs an agreement was made between Basedow and Robert Stott, with whom they were staying, to adopt the girls and train them in domestic duties and they were both taken to Adelaide and to the Basedow's house in Kent Town. Despite this many were convinced that the girls were primarily brought in as domestic labour and treated as such and, in 1929, a photo of them (alongside Basedow) was printed in The Register News-Pictorial, which stated they were servants.

Little is known of their lives during this time, however, it is known that Apma had two children: Charlie who was born in 1942, who was taken by Basedow's sisters to raise as their own, and Margaret who was born in 1943, who was sent to the Colebrook Home.

She also recalled that many family members would visit them there, sometimes as boarders when working in Adelaide, as the house was so large that it could easily accommodate everybody.

In 1958 Apma was able to return to Central Australia where she was able to reunite with her daughter Margaret; her parents had already died. During this time Apma spent many years visiting with extended family throughout Central Australia

Apma died in Alice Springs on 14 August 1990 and is buried at Alice Springs Cemetery.