Ted Egan
Edward Joseph Egan was an Australian folk singer and public servant who served as Administrator of the Northern Territory from 2003 to 2007.
Early life and education
Egan was born in Coburg, Victoria, and was educated at Parade College. He moved to the Northern Territory in 1949 at the age of 16.In his early career with the Department of Aboriginal Affairs he was engaged in jobs such as stockwork and crocodile hunting while employed as a patrol officer and reserve superintendent. Later he was a teacher at bush schools.
Egan was the sole teacher at the Newcastle Waters Station in 1965 and was stranded at the property for six weeks when the creek flooded. During this time, no supplies were able to be delivered, so Egan had to hunt for animals such as bush turkey for food. He later returned to the station in 2012 for the book launch of Middle of Everywhere about life in the area.
In the late 1960s he worked for the new Office of Aboriginal Affairs and was one of the voices that led to the creation of NAIDOC Week. He later became a member of the first National Council for Aboriginal Reconciliation.
Music career
Egan began recording in 1969 with "Drinkers of the Northern Territory", which enjoyed considerable local popularity. He subsequently released 30 albums, mostly themed around outback life, history and Aboriginal people.Egan wrote the song "Gurindji Blues" in 1969 with Vincent Lingiari during the Wave Hill walk-off. Egan said he was moved to write the song after hearing Peter Nixon, then Minister for the Interior, say in parliament that if the Gurindji people wanted land, they should save up and buy it like any other Australian. Nixon was also mentioned in the song.
Egan was a regular performer at the National Folk Festival and received a lifetime achievement award there in 2015.
Administrator of the Northern Territory
Egan was appointed Administrator of the Northern Territory by Governor-General Michael Jeffery effective 31 October 2003. He was sworn in on 18 November.On 14 September 2005, Egan was given a one-year extension to his term of office by Jim Lloyd, the federal Minister for Local Government, Territories and Roads. This was extended for another year until 30 October 2007.
Television
Egan presented and narrated six episodes of the 1989 series This Land Australia, a series devoted to iconic Australian people and places. He also wrote and performed the show's theme song of the same name. He was a co-host of the lifestyle show The Great Outdoors.Death
Egan died on 4 December 2025 at the age of 93. The Northern Territory's chief minister, Lia Finocchiaro, announced that Egan would receive a state funeral.Albums
Charting singles
Books
- 1978 Outback Holiday
- 1979 A Drop of Rough Ted
- 1984 The Overlanders Songbook
- 1987 The Aboriginals Songbook – Faces of Australia Series ASIN B000N7AKU0
- 1989 Shearers Songbook
- 1991 Would I Lie to You? The Goanna Driver and Other Very True Stories
- 1993 The Paperboys War Ted Egan An Autobiography
- 1996 Justice All Their Own
- 1997 Sitdown Up North Ted Egan An Autobiography
- 1997 The Drover's Boy
- 2003 The Land Downunder
- 2008 Due Inheritance
- 2011 Kutju Australia: An Australian Translation of Advance Australia Fair
- 2014 The ANZACS 100 Years On: in Story and Song
- 2019 ''Outback Songman: My Life''
Videos
- This Land Australia series
Honours
In 2004, Egan was promoted to an Officer of the Order in acknowledgement of "the significance of continuing contribution to the community culminating in his being sworn-in as the 18th Administrator of the Northern Territory".
Egan was listed among the Australian Living Treasures by the National Trust of Australia.
Egan was the recipient of the National Folk Festival's Lifetime Achievement Award in April 2015 at the festival's opening ceremony in Canberra. He performed four songs at the event, including one about pioneering women in Australia.
ARIA Music Awards
The ARIA Music Awards are a set of annual ceremonies presented by Australian Recording Industry Association which recognise excellence, innovation and achievement across all genres of the music of Australia. They commenced in 1987.!