The Warumungu community is in mourning after a community leader sadly passed away during the night of 24 November.

Mr R. Plummer was a Warumungu Traditional Owner, a Cultural Advisor to the Legislative Assembly and a member of many organisational boards including Papulu-Apparr Kari Aboriginal Corporation (PAK) and Anyinginyi Health Aboriginal Corporation plus involved with many causes such as Literacy for Life, AFL Barkly and more.

The senior songman was just 62 years old and he definitely left a lasting legacy in the community of Tennant Creek.

The murals across the road from the former Westpac on Paterson Street were created by R. Plummer.

R. Plummer also served as a Barkly Regional Council councillor and was for a time the Deputy Mayor.

His daughter Yvette said there are too many favourite memories of her father to pick out one, but she described him as a loving father, uncle, brother and a loving friend to everyone.

“He was such a beautiful man with a beautiful soul,” she said.

Member for Barkly Steve Edgington said he was devastated by R. Plummer’s sudden passing.

“He was my work mate and a highly respected member of the Tennant Creek community, the Barkly and the Northern Territory,” said Mr Edgington,

“We shared so many great times together which I will treasure forever.

“Whether through football, on Council or travelling and working together every day, he always focused on trying to get the best outcomes for his family and the people of the Barkly.”

Papulu Apparr-Kari CEO Karan Hayward said R. Plummer will be remembered as a strong voice and advocate for all of the Barkly region’s languages and will be sadly missed by their governing committee.

“The strong direction he gave enabled us to complete valuable language work on several languages and will be acknowledged and remembered on the day of our launch of the Feed the Monster learning app in Canberra later this month,” said Ms Hayward.

This article appeared in Tennant & District Times, 10 March 2023.