- Entry type: Person
- Entry ID: AWE0977
Clayton, Iris
(1945 – 2009)- Born 15 February 1945, Leeton, New South Wales, Australia
- Died 5 July 2009, Bega, New South Wales, Australia
- Occupation Author, Community worker, Health worker, Public servant, Researcher
Summary
Iris Clayton was taken to the Cootamundra Domestic Training Home for Aboriginal Girls in the 1950s, and from there sent to work as a servant in Canberra. At the age of 18 she was allowed to return home where she married. She returned to Canberra in 1977 to work at AIATSIS, first as a library assistant and later on the switchboard, where she stayed for a number of years. She was awarded a grant to research the Wiradjuri births, deaths and marriages, and her findings have been deposited at AIATSIS.
From 1991, Clayton worked as a health worker at the Winnanga Nimmityjah Aboriginal Health Service in Canberra. She was involved in community issues and served as a council member of the ACT Cultural Council. She influenced a generation of Canberra school children by becoming a regular visitor to ACT schools, sharing her stories and explaining her culture.
Iris Clayton died on 5 July 2009 at Bega, New South Wales, after more than a decade of recurrent health problems.
Archival resources
- AIATSIS Film Collection
- AIATSIS Pictorial Collection
- AIATSIS Manuscript and Rare Books Collection
- AIATSIS Sound Collection
Published resources
- Edited Book
- Book
- Newspaper Article
- Journal Article
-
Resource
- Trove: Clayton, Iris (1945-2009), http://nla.gov.au/nla.party-535678