Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander viewers are warned that the following article contains images of deceased persons
The Byron Shire will celebrate the life of one of its most charismatic, colourful, and creative Aboriginal Elders at a public event in Apex Park on Friday, July 18 at 2pm.
Uncle Pete – also known by many names, including Ecca, Jangala, Tracker, and Peter Birch Marshall – passed away peacefully on July 6 surrounded by loved ones.
At 66, he was taken too soon, leaving behind many friends and family, including his daughter Elle Davidson, his long-term partner Vicki Hainey, and Vicki’s children Mitch, Amy and Emma.
But he lived a beautiful life filled with good times, rock’n’roll and a rich contribution to his family, community, and culture.
‘How blessed we were that we had him in our lives,’ Ms Hainey says.
Elle Davidson describes her dad as ‘just one of those people that people loved being around’.
‘He was very charismatic, very strong in his culture, and with a real passion for rock’n’roll and performing,’ she says.
Uncle Pete was known to many in Byron Shire and beyond through his many years of work in the music industry – a role in which he was affectionately known as ‘Tracker’.
ACDC roadie
As a skilful and experienced roadie, he worked with some of the biggest names in music during the crazy 1990s, including AC/DC, Warumpi Band, Guns N’ Roses, Pearl Jam, and Midnight Oil – touring across the country and beyond.
He later became the stage manager for the Indigenous stage at Bluesfest, a role he took to with typical energy and flair.
But Uncle Pete’s involvement in the industry was not limited to his work behind the curtain.
He was a talented dancer, performing as part of a group, or on his own at numerous shows and other events and gatherings.
‘He used to play clapsticks and dance, to get up there and perform, he just loved being on stage,’ Elle says.
‘He met so many people through his work in the music industry – it was a big part of his life and his connection’.
‘He became good friends with Lucas Nelson, Willie Nelson’s dad. Lucas called mum Vicki when he found out that dad had died. He got Willie [Nelson] on the phone. Willie said that he had a number of dad’s paintings in his home, which he loved.’
Painting was another source of creative expression for Uncle Pete. He was a talented exponent of traditional painting techniques, which he fused with his own unique sense of colour and style.
Football prowess
Along with his prowess on the football field, where he was known as ‘Ecca The Wrecker’ after South Sydney legend Eric Simms, Uncle Pete’s involvement in music and art were key parts of his life.
But underlying it all was his deep connection to, and desire to share, his culture.
‘I think it was pretty significant that he passed on the first day of NAIDOC Week,’ Elle says.
‘The theme was “The Next Generation: Strength, Vision and Legacy” and that was really big for dad. He was really passionate about sharing and passing on culture to Jarjum [the young people].
‘There are so many people out there who he helped connect to culture, and I know that means a lot to them.’
Uncle Pete’s own connection to culture was a path of many twists and turns.
Born in Darwin
Born in 1959 under a birthing tree at Rapid Creek in Darwin, he was taken from his mother Ethel Birch as a baby, and sent to the Retta Dixon Home in Darwin.
He was adopted by Arthur and Lydia Marshall, a couple who were Methodist missionaries, who also adopted his brother, John.
‘They spent some time in Nhulunbuy and Arnhem Land and then brought dad back to Epping [in Sydney], which is where he spent his years growing up,’ Elle says.
It wasn’t until he was in his 20s that Uncle Pete started connecting to culture. He joined a group of Aboriginal dances and painters which performed and sold their wares at Circular Quay.
‘In the early ’90s he used Link-Up to connect with our family in Kimberley,’ Elle says.
‘He was in his early 30s when he went up there. He stayed up there for a couple of years [and] got to reconnect with his mum.’
These experiences cemented a deep connection to culture within Uncle Pete, one that he brought with him when he moved to the Byron Shire in the late ’90s.
‘Mum and dad met back in Sydney, where mum set eyes on him on a footy field. Eventually mum decided she wanted to move up to Byron with me, and dad followed us up a little while after to be closer to me,’ Elle says.
‘He became really good mates with Uncle Mickey Kay and [local Elder] Linda Vidler adopted him into the local Arakwal mob.
‘They always used to sit up in the top park at Main Beach. It became known as ‘The Office’ and they would sit up there painting, swimming, and connecting with all the people they knew and made new friends easily.’
‘He was also a keen fisherman. He used to go up real early to Main Beach and fish off the rocks, or later in life he always set up crab pots in Ballina.’
Uncle Pete became well known in the Shire for his dancing, his painting and for leading smoking ceremonies at many public events.
Bridging mob
He also became a bridge between the Indigenous and non-Indigenous communities, and was named the Byron Shire’s Elder of the Year in the 2015 NAIDOC Week Awards.
Having been so deeply connected to the Byron community, it was only right for his celebration of life to be open to the whole community.
The event will take place on Friday, July 18 at 2pm in Apex Park.
‘We want as many people to come along as possible and to join us later for live music and a drink at the Byron Bowlo,’ Elle says
While the celebration of Uncle Pete’s life will take place in Byron, it is back up in the Kimberley where he wanted some of his ashes to be laid to rest.
In order to fund this journey for Uncle Pete and his loved ones, Elle has launched a GoFundMe campaign, which can be accessed at www.gofundme.com/f/support–uncle-pete-returning-to-country.
‘He wanted to go up there to Balanggarra Country and be with his mum Ethel at the cemetery in Wyndham,’ Elle says. ‘We want to get all the family together… some of Nan’s siblings are still alive but they can’t travel so the GoFundMe is for myself, mum Vicki and Mitch to take him up there.’
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