Indigenous Australia

King Mickey Johnston, n.d.

Wollongong City Library, P07/P07968

King Mickey Johnston, head of the South Coast Aboriginal tribe between Wollongong and Nowra, died at the Minnamurra River camp last week, the cause of death being pneumonia. Mickey, who was 72 years of age, was invested with the insignia of office at the Wollongong Show some eleven years ago by the late Mr. Archibald Campbell (the then Parliamentary representative for Wollongong), since when he has continually worn the crescent-shaped inscribed brass plate presented to him on that occasion. King Mickey knew and was known by almost everybody throughout the length and breadth of the Couth Coast, and was well liked. "He was always very respectful," says a Kiama paper, "and on meeting a lady would never forget the usual salute due to her sex. Mickey had a white heart, and was ever respectable, and lived a good life; his last words were, 'Oh, I see Jesus.' He was of a happy disposition, and his smiling face will be much missed in this district. For his advanced age he was very active, and could walk a long distance or climb a tree with many of his younger fellowers." His remains were interred in North Kiama Cemetery, when the Rev. T. V. Alkin officiated at the graveside.