For the British trade union leader, see Doug Nicholls (trade unionist).
Pastor The Honourable Sir
Douglas Nicholls
KCVO OBE
28th Governor of South Australia
In office 1 December 1976 – 30 April 1977
Monarch
Elizabeth II
Premier
Don Dunstan
Preceded by
Sir Mark Oliphant
Succeeded by
Sir Keith Seaman
Personal details
Born
(1906-12-09)9 December 1906 Cummeragunja Reserve, New South Wales
Died
4 June 1988(1988-06-04) (aged 81) Mooroopna, Victoria
Nationality
Australian
Spouse
Gladys Nicholls
Profession
Pastor, Footballer, Activist
Sir Douglas Ralph NichollsKCVO 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.
^"Biographies" (PDF).
^"A Magnificent Life Journey". 27 May 2016.
^Sexton, Mike (25 May 2016). "Pioneering Sir Doug Nicholls remembered in AFL tribute". ABC News. Retrieved 1 April 2020.
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...
included Pastor David Unaipon, the first Aboriginal author; Pastor Sir DouglasNicholls, athlete, activist and former Governor of South Australia; Mum (Shirl)...
Gladys Naby Muriel Nicholls, Lady Nicholls (née Bux; 21 October 1906 – 28 January 1981) was an Australian Aboriginal activist, who made significant contributions...
of Sir Douglas and Lady Gladys Nicholls, in recognition of their contributions to the advocacy of Aboriginal rights. The Division of Nicholls was created...
Oliphant (appointed 1971), and the first Aboriginal governor was Sir DouglasNicholls (appointed 1976). The current governor is diplomat Frances Adamson...
established on the steps of Parliament House in Canberra. In 1976, Sir DouglasNicholls was appointed as the 28th Governor of South Australia, the first Aboriginal...
Indigenous Australian Governor, Sir DouglasNicholls, a former football player and clergyman. Following Nicholls' resignation due to ill health in 1977...
publication of a report and a subsequent film shot by Bill Grayden and DouglasNicholls, called Manslaughter. The series of events which became known as the...
included Pastor David Unaipon, the first Aboriginal author; Pastor Sir DouglasNicholls, athlete, activist and former Governor of South Australia; Mum (Shirl)...
live among the Yolngu. Elsewhere around this time, activists like Sir DouglasNicholls were commencing their campaigns for Aboriginal rights within the established...
in the 1930s by Yorta Yorta activists such as William Cooper, Sir DouglasNicholls, Marj Tucker, Geraldine Briggs and Shadrach James. It lodged a claim...
of the 'grave dangers' of appointing an Australian Aborigine, Sir DouglasNicholls, to succeed him as South Australia's Governor". Oliphant had secretly...
in Division Two. The teams currently play their home games at Sir DouglasNicholls Oval in Thornbury. In 2008, Lionel "Jacko" Proctor won the Division...
appointed the first Aboriginal governor of an Australian state when Sir DouglasNicholls was made Governor of South Australia. In 1987, copper, gold, and silver...
fought European and Japanese around Darwin in the early 20th century DouglasNicholls (1906–1988) – first Aboriginal Australian to be knighted and hold a...
first Australian to be canonised as a Catholic Saint in 2010, and Sir DouglasNicholls, a preacher and Aboriginal rights activist was the first Indigenous...
1938, with the participation of leading indigenous activists like DouglasNicholls, the Australian Aborigines' League organised the "Day of Mourning"...
Australia was launched. Elsewhere around this time, activists like Sir DouglasNicholls were commencing their campaigns for Aboriginal rights within the established...
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