Powerful graduate’s inspiring story
by Charlotte Knottenbelt
Peter
Burgoyne – senior, that is – was one of 2,417 people who were conferred
with degrees by UniSA in September.
Burgoyne – who shares his name with his Port Power footballer son – has overcome extraordinary adversity in his life to get to where he is now, CEO of the Port Lincoln Aboriginal Community Council.
Born in Kooniba (an Aboriginal community near Ceduna) in the 1950s, he grew up in a time of recession when Aborigines were not considered citizens by the government.
"I was educated in Port Lincoln until I left school aged 14 to start work in the abattoir," he says. "Times were very hard and rough but as a family we were always committed to supporting one another, through government scrutiny, racism and ignorance, and still manage to hold onto our dignity and cultural values."
Over the years Burgoyne has worked in a range of jobs, from railway fettler, to alcohol field officer, to state director for Indigenous and public health for the federal government. He first took up study 17 years ago at the age of 36 – this latest qualification adding to a 'trophy cabinet' that already includes a Diploma in Management and a Bachelor of Arts.
Burgoyne says his Masters studies (which he did through UniSA's Aboriginal and Islander Support Unit in Port Lincoln) taught him a lot about "management ethics and principles, and how these fit – or don't fit – in the context of Indigenous communities' and organisations' needs". And he hasn't ruled out the possibility of further study – probably a PhD by research.
"My wife Gabriella has a teaching degree, and we have always encouraged our children to value education," he says, adding that Peter junior is currently completing a diploma in aquaculture, with his other son Shaun recently completing his SACE.