Reginald Dodd OAM

Reconciliation advocate

2019 SA Senior Australian of the Year

Arabunna elder Reg Dodd has spent a lifetime advocating for his people. Using a Roget’s Thesaurus, he interpreted complex legislation, making his first Native Title claim in 1998.

At Reg’s initiative, Lawyers for the Arabunna Marree People (LAMP) was created, with lawyers from all over Australia providing millions of dollars of pro bono legal assistance – including legal support for Native Title, which was granted to the Arabunna in 2012.

Other LAMP initiatives included a submission for National Heritage listing of Arabunna country, now on the finalised priority assessment list; securing funding for heritage restoration works; and emergency assistance to individual Arabunna women and men. With a LAMP lawyer, Reg also co- designed and co-taught a law course at RMIT University on country.

A loyal family man, Reg has led cultural immersion tours of the Lake Eyre region since 1996 to financially support the Arabunna Centre and promote reconciliation. He is also a magnificent photographic artist, holding many successful exhibitions.