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Lambrick’s obituary from Globe and Laurel, 1903; Lambrick’s letterbooks, Correspondence, NSW Archives; J Allen & P Corris (eds), The
Journal of John Sweatman, 1977.
BARBARA JAMES, Vol 1.
LAMILAMI, LAZARUS (MERWULIDJI) (c1908–1977), missionary, an Aborigine of the Maung linguistic
group of western Arnhem Land, was born about 1908 on the mainland south-west of Goulburn Island. He spent the
earlier part of his life with his family as a semi-nomad on the mainland. They moved to Goulburn Island soon after
the Methodist Overseas Mission (MOM) started its first mission in Arnhem Land in 1916. He went to the mission
school, but was also initiated into Maung membership. He worked on the MOM boats, which plied between
Darwin and the five missions spread along the coast. He later settled down on Croker Island.
Lamilami married Magumiri in 1930, but after about five years, they separated. He then married Ilidjili in 1947,
from whom he had three children, Ruby (Nangurinyara), Ronald (Ilugilug) and Lloyd (Dabidjara).
Lamilami had a very good knowledge of the Macassans, the Indonesian trepangers who made annual trips
during the wet season to the northern and eastern coasts of Arnhem Land for several centuries. His uncle had gone
back to Macassar with the Macassans but had never returned. His father, according to tribal custom, had to marry
his brother’s promisee, who became Lamilami’s mother.
After his second marriage in 1947, he moved to Goulburn Island where he worked as a mission carpenter.
He became deeply involved in the church work there. During this time, he visited a number of centres in the
southern States of Australia doing deputation work for the MOM.
Lamilami was transferred to Croker Island in 1964 where he worked as a mission builder and as a local preacher.
In 1965, he was accepted as a candidate for the Methodist ministry and had to take special studies. He was ordained
on 5 November 1966 and worked as minister on Croker Island for a number of years. He was made an Officer of
the Order of the British Empire (OBE) for his outstanding service to the Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal people.
He joined the staff of Nungalinya College at the beginning of 1977 where he contributed significantly to a
cross-cultural understanding of Christianity. He died suddenly in Darwin Hospital on 21 September 1977.
The Reverend Lazarus Lamilami was an outstanding Aboriginal person, greatly loved by Aboriginal and
non-Aboriginal people alike. He was a key figure in traditional and church life on Croker and Goulburn islands.
He did much to build bridges of understanding between the white and Aboriginal races. He frequently said,
‘We must walk hand in hand together.’
L Lamilami, Lamilami Speaks: An Autobiography, 1974; K Cole, The Aborigines of Arnhem Land, 1979; Uniting Church of Australia, Records
of the Methodist Overseas Mission.
KEITH COLE, Vol 1.
LAMPE, VICTOR LESLIE (1887–1949), headmaster and Supervisor of Education, was born on 5 April 1887,
at Oakbank, South Australia, the second youngest child of Francis and Maria Jane, nee Lugg. His father, formerly
of Hamburg, Germany, was the head brewer at the Oakbank Brewery. Victor attended primary school at Oakbank
and later was a student at St Peters College. On conclusion, he studied at the University of Adelaide, graduating
as Bachelor of Arts. Entering the Education Department and after experience in various schools, he became head
teacher at the Farina School in South Australia in 1910, where he met and married Winifred Patricia Napier on
24 January 1913. Later in 1913, he was appointed to Darwin as headmaster (of the only school) and subsequently,
Supervisor of Education for the Northern Territory.
After taking up his appointment, he realised how isolated the Territory was and made every effort to ensure
his pupils were kept informed of the current affairs of the other states of Australia and world affairs in general.
As there was only primary education available before the Second World War, he eventually gained the approval of
the authorities to grant one scholarship in 1926 to one student to proceed south to study at secondary level. In 1935,
two scholarships were granted. He was also responsible for initiating correspondence courses for children in the
outback of the Northern Territory.
Over the years from 1913, he became involved in community affairs, as a member of the Church of England,
the Masonic Lodge, and active participation in cricket, football and tennis. He was one of the instigators in forming
the Northern Territory Australian Rules Football Association and captained the Waratah Team on a number of
occasions. In later years, he had the pleasure of seeing each of his three sons members of his former team.
In 1928, he became a Justice of the Peace for Western Australia, South Australia and the Northern Territory and
Special Magistrate. After the closure of the school in the early years of the Second World War, he was appointed
Chief Censor and continued in this position after the military assumed control of Darwin. He and his wife were the
welfare officers in charge of the last evacuee ship, SS Montoro, to leave Darwin mid January 1942. He returned
immediately to continue his duties. After surviving the first bombings of Darwin, he became ill and on 28 April 1942
returned to Adelaide on sick leave. He retired on medical grounds in February 1943. He died on 10 November 1949
of carcinoma and was buried on 11 November 1949 at Centennial Park Cemetery, Springbank, South Australia,
being survived by his wife, three sons and one daughter.
A street in Fannie Bay is named after him.
Family information.
J L LAMPE, Vol 1.