Anyone who has attended a civic function in Cessnock in recent years is sure to have seen Mr. Elvin deliver a ‘welcome to country’.

Shortly after giving the welcome to country at a conference on August 16, Mr. Elvin died suddenly, aged 77.

A well-respected Aboriginal elder, artist and teacher, he has been remembered as a humble and generous man who touched the lives of everyone he met.

“Whatever he did he poured his heart into,” his daughter Lesley Salem said.

A loving husband to Jan, father-of-three and grandfather-of-seven, he was known as ‘Uncle Les’ to many more.

Born at Kearsley, Mr. Elvin worked as an electrician in Hunter coalmines until he was 60.

About 12 years before he retired from the coalmines he injured his back and was given a set of oil paints that he didn’t know how to use.

He initially painted in a western style, focusing on portraiture, before studying Aboriginal culture.

Mr. Elvin won the NAIDOC Aboriginal Artist of the Year award in 2008, and the following year designed the Newcastle Knights inaugural indigenous jersey.

He was named Cessnock City’s citizen of the year on Australia Day 2012, recognised for his dedication, commitment and outstanding contribution in helping to bridge the gap between our present society and our original landowners through the medium of art.

In 2014 he played a part in Cessnock Council’s bid for Asian Cup pre-competition camp, painting boomerangs that were sent to all 16 countries taking part, and a further 50 for the Japanese team.

In June this year, he was awarded the major prize at the Weston Art Show, which he had entered many times in the past 17 years.

He was chairperson of Cessnock City Council’s Aboriginal Advisory Committee and had been a strong advocate in the development of council’s draft Reconciliation Action Plan.

Council held a minute’s silence at last Wednesday’s council meeting to pay respect to Mr. Elvin.

Cessnock Mayor Bob Pynsent said Mr. Elvin was a valued community member.

“Uncle Les was a proud Wonnarua man, a leader of our Aboriginal community and a pillar of the Cessnock local government area,” Cr. Pynsent said.

“Our community is diminished by his passing, but is enriched by the legacy that he has left to us.”

Mr. Elvin was not only recognised as a great artist but a valued role model to hundreds of school students across the region.

A touching tribute to Mr. Elvin was held at last week’s Kullaburra Aboriginal Education Awards, with students lighting a candle in his memory.

“Our schools will miss him, our community will miss him, everyone will miss him,” Cessnock Aboriginal Education Consultative Group president Sonia Sharpe said.

Besides his work with schools, Mr. Elvin encouraged further understanding of Aboriginal culture through his engagement with art galleries, cultural facilities, NAIDOC celebrations and corrective centres.

He and Jan took in many former inmates, some of whom have travelled from as far as from as far as Casino and Tenterfield to pay their respects.

Mrs. Salem said her father embraced his Aboriginal culture wholeheartedly, and that his funeral service will include many symbols of his culture, including a painted coffin and totem poles.

Mr. Elvin’s funeral service will be held at the Crowne Plaza Hunter Valley Conference and Events Centre at Lovedale on Wednesday, August 26 at 10am.