Robbie Williams (Indigenous Australian)

Robbie Williams (died December 20 2007) was the first Indigenous Australian councillor to sit on the Brisbane City Council [ [http://www.news.com.au/couriermail/story/0,23739,22954727-3102,00.html City councillor Robbie Williams dies of heart attack | The Courier-Mail ] ] . He had held the role only since October 2007, but had been tipped to win a seat in the council elections in March 2008. Previously Williams had served three terms as a regional councillor with ATSIC and was later the ATSIC commissioner for Brisbane and southeast Queensland. He was widely known for his community work, [ [http://www.brisbanetimes.com.au/news/queensland/hundreds-honour-aboriginal-worrior/2007/12/28/1198778690164.html Hundreds honour 'Aboriginal warrior' - Queensland - BrisbaneTimes ] ] and was the founder and chair of First Contact Aboriginal Corporation for Youth, an organisation dedicated to improving the lives of indigenous youth, in 1992. [ [http://www.brisbanetimes.com.au/articles/2007/09/27/1190486459183.html Robbie Williams to enter politics - Queensland - BrisbaneTimes ] ]

Williams was the son of Hazel, an Aboriginal with connections to the Yugambeh language group, and his father was Bob Williams, a butcher. He trained and worked as a butcher for several years before gaining a diploma in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander welfare and joining the Australian Public Service, working in the Department of Social Security. [ [http://www.theaustralian.news.com.au/story/0,25197,22983090-5006786,00.html Hundreds farewell 'Aboriginal warrior' | The Australian ] ]

He was married to Trish and had three children. He died of a heart attack at the age of 45 on December 20 2007.

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