Douglas Nicholls

Douglas Nicholls
28th Governor of South Australia
In office
1 December 1976 – 30 April 1977
MonarchElizabeth II
PremierDon Dunstan
Preceded bySir Mark Oliphant
Succeeded bySir Keith Seaman
Personal details
Born(1906-12-09)9 December 1906
Cummeragunja Reserve, New South Wales
Died4 June 1988(1988-06-04) (aged 81)
Mooroopna, Victoria
NationalityAustralian
SpouseGladys Nicholls
ProfessionPastor, Footballer, Activist

Sir Douglas Ralph Nicholls KCVO OBE (9 December 1906 – 4 June 1988) was a prominent Aboriginal Australian from the Yorta Yorta people. He was a professional athlete, Churches of Christ pastor and church planter, ceremonial officer and a pioneering campaigner for reconciliation.

Nicholls was the first Aboriginal Australian to be knighted when he was appointed Knight Bachelor in 1972 (he was subsequently appointed a Knight Commander of the Royal Victorian Order in 1977).[1][2] He was also the first – and as of 2016 the only[3] – Indigenous Australian to be appointed to vice-regal office, serving as Governor of South Australia from 1 December 1976 until his resignation on 30 April 1977 due to poor health.

  1. ^ "Biographies" (PDF).
  2. ^ "A Magnificent Life Journey". 27 May 2016.
  3. ^ Sexton, Mike (25 May 2016). "Pioneering Sir Doug Nicholls remembered in AFL tribute". ABC News. Retrieved 1 April 2020.

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