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D Carment, ‘A Report on Structures of Historic Significance at Nguiu, Bathurst Island’, National Trust of Australia (NT), 1983; J Pye, The
Tiwi Islands, 1977.
DAVID CARMENT, Vol 2.
DEAN, LILLIAN MAUD (1899–1980), photographer, community worker and politician, was born in 1899 in
Western Australia, where she developed an early interest in photography. He photographic career was begun in
1914 when she started work as a photographer’s assistant, retouching and colouring photos. When the photographer
took ill one day, Dean had to take his scheduled appointments and from that day until she died, photography was
her primary occupation.
From Western Australia she went to Sydney and then to New Guinea for seven years. When the Second World
War broke out Dean was evacuated back to Sydney and began working for a city photographer, Norton Travaire.
She once estimated that during the next seven years she covered an average of 24 weddings every weekend,
sometimes having up to seven brides waiting in different parts of the studio. When the last wedding was finished
she usually asked the bridal car to drive her home.
After the war Dean and her colourer, Margaret Dewhurst, decided to try their luck as a travelling photographic
team. They first arrived in Darwin in 1947 and soon discovered there was a real need for professional photographers
in the town. For two years they drove between Sydney and Darwin, spending several months in Darwin taking
photographs, then travelling to Sydney to do all the film processing and then returning to Darwin to deliver the
clients’ photographs. Finally they decided to open a shop in Darwin and, despite the fact that white ants ruined one
of their new cameras before they got it unpacked, they opened on schedule and to a grateful Darwin clientele.
Their first studio was an old hut on Daly Street, which seemed to beckon a continual array of prowlers until the
women had some floodlights installed to frighten off potential thieves. At least one was arrested and sent to jail but
returned the next day to have his photo taken.
Dean experienced many amusing and interesting incidents in her photographic career, including falling into
an empty grave while trying to photograph a funeral. A highlight of her earlier years in the Top End was being
asked to photograph Aboriginal artist Albert Namatjira on his visit to Darwin when he saw and painted the sea
for the first time. Dean also printed most of the photographs for author Bill Harney’s books on the Territory and
photographed countless weddings. On her retirement she estimated the number at around 4 000. She specialised
in portraits and was particularly popular with the Greek community, taking many of their family and individual
portraits, some of which were ‘touched up’ to be sent back to Greece by local Greek men seeking a Greek wife.
Eventually Dean moved her studio to Knuckey Street, where it remained until she left Darwin in 1971.
But Dean’s contributions to the Territory were not limited to the photographic and commercial areas. She was
the first woman to run for and be elected to the Darwin City Council. She served as an alderman from 1958 until
1961 and between 1966 and 1969, losing an election in 1961. She represented the Fannie Bay area for most of her
terms and was considered to be a very parochial and effective councillor for that area, particularly noted for her
success in moving that a 25 miles per hour speed limit be enforced over a dangerous section of Gilruth Avenue
which previously was the scene of many accidents.
In addition to her interest in and service to local government, Dean was a keen member of the Darwin Turf Club
Committee for 10 years and once owned a racehorse called ‘Gentleman’. She was a foundation member of the
Darwin Branch of the Royal Commonwealth Society and the Darwin Bowls Club, helped establish the Automobile
Association of the Northern Territory and was an active fundraiser for many charities. Friends described her as
outgoing, social, strong willed and determined on issues that mattered to her.
Dean left Darwin in 1971 to retire to Sydney, after spending a few weeks visiting her only child, a daughter,
Hazel, in New Guinea. She died in Sydney after a long illness on 7 June 1980, aged 81 years. Her ashes were later
scattered over Darwin Harbour during a special boat service attended by many of her Darwin friends.
A Heatley, A City Grows, 1986; Northern Territory News, 10 July 1971, 8 June 1980; personal interview notes and comments from Darwin
residents; interview with P Spillett by A Heatley.
BARBARA JAMES, Vol 2.
DEAN, ROGER LEVINGE (1913– ), clerk, soldier, politician, Administrator and diplomat, was born in Sydney,
New South Wales, on 10 December 1913 to Mr and Mrs C Dean. He was educated at Newcastle Church of England
Grammar School and Newcastle Boys’ High School. Between 1935 and 1949 he worked on the administrative
staff of Rylands Brothers (Australia). He served in the Australian Imperial Force, both in Australia and overseas,
throughout the Second World War and was commissioned. In 1949 he was elected to the House of Representatives
for the seat of Robertson, based on the New South Wales Central Coast. He held it until his resignation in 1964.
In 1950 he married Ann N, daughter of H E Manning. She died in 1982. They had a son and a daughter.
During Dean’s parliamentary career he served on numerous committees and delegations. He gained first
hand experience of the Northern Territory’s Aboriginal issues when he was Chairman of the parliamentary select
committee that inquired into the grievances of the Yirrkala Aborigines in 1963. In 1964 he left parliament to
accept appointment as Administrator of the Northern Territory, succeeding Roger Nott, who had been appointed
Administrator of Norfolk Island. Charles Barnes, the Minister for Territories, said Dean’s appointment had come
at a time when the Commonwealth government was placing considerable emphasis on development programs in
northern Australia. He emphasised Dean’s ‘valuable knowledge of Aboriginal affairs’.
Dean’s term was one during which considerable change occurred in the administrative and social affairs of
the Territory although many felt that the changes were too slow, too late and too little. Nevertheless, they were