The Kalkadunga community has announced the passing of revered Elder and Knowledge Holder Aunty Ena Sam on December 3, 2025. She was a pillar of cultural preservation, dedicating her life to sharing oral histories, Dreamtime stories, and traditions of the Kalkadunga people. Her teachings focused on resilience, forgiveness, healing, and the enduring strength of her community.
Aunty Ena was a devoted mother of five children, including renowned visual artist Colleen Sam. In her youth, she absorbed stories from elders around campfires in outback Queensland compounds, later passing them on through personal sketches and family narratives. Despite severe health challenges, including the amputation of her hands and feet following a kidney infection, she embodied unbreakable spirit.
She collaborated extensively with her daughter Colleen on cultural initiatives, contributing pencil sketches from the 1990s that documented family histories and were reimagined in contemporary paintings.
Their joint efforts featured prominently in the 2025 State Library of Queensland exhibition “The Unbroken Spirit of the Kalkadoons,” highlighting intergenerational storytelling and survival. No verified information is available regarding the specific cause of her death.
The community has initiated a fundraiser to assist her family with funeral expenses and related costs. Contributions are aimed at ensuring a dignified farewell, honoring her wish to rest with ancestors on Country. Specific details about funeral arrangements have not been publicly disclosed.
Aunty Ena’s legacy endures through her family’s ongoing commitment to cultural education and healing. Her stories, safeguarded in secret for generations, continue to inspire understanding of Kalkadunga resilience amid historical challenges. The community expresses profound gratitude for the support received during this time of mourning.
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