Eileen Morgan

Eileen Mary Morgan (c. 1920 – 2011) was a respected Yuin Elder, author, and community advocate. Deeply connected to her Country, Eileen devoted her life to preserving Yuin stories, language, and cultural practices for future generations.

Born and raised around Wallaga Lake and Bermagui, she was part of a generation who lived through profound cultural change and resilience. She moved with her husband to Cobargo in 1950 as part of broader displacement and assimilation policy but remained deeply connected to Country.

Her knowledge of traditional ways; fishing, gathering, kinship, and ceremony was passed down from her Elders, and she became a key voice in recording and sharing that heritage. Eileen’s warmth, humour, and generosity made her a beloved figure in her community, and she was often sought out for guidance and storytelling.

In the 1990s, Eileen collaborated with researchers and cultural institutions to document her memories and knowledge. Her oral histories, preserved in the AIATSIS collection, remain vital records of Yuin life on the Far South East Coast. Her book The Calling of the Spirits (1994) draws on her childhood on Wallaga Lake, family history, bush foods, songs and the “old-timers” who taught her language and lore. She was proud to speak her Yuin Language and taught it where she could, and guided younger people in plant knowledge and tradition.

Eileen helped establish the Yuin Folk Club and is remembered as a woman of dignity, courage, and insight, her legacy continues to inspire those working to keep language and culture strong.