Doolann Leisha Eatts with Liz Hayden and Ian Wilkes in 2020, when she was helping tell the story of Galup (Lake Monger).

FLAGS were at half-mast at municipal buildings across Perth this week to mark the funeral of Doolann Leisha Eatts, the Aboriginal elder who ensured the survival of many stories of Noongar lore across Perth.

Ms Eatts (October 10, 1939 – March 29, 2022) was a Whudjuk Ballardong woman born in Badjaling and lived most of her live in Perth’s north.

Through her grandmother’s memories of colonial rival, she passed on important stories of early contact at Kings Park, of colonials killing Aboriginal people at Galup (Lake Monger), taught Noongar language classes, and was an early custodian to regularly perform Welcomes to Country.

Ms Eatts’ funeral was on April 29 and Perth, Vincent and Stirling councils set their flags to half mast to honour her contributions.

Since 2000 she’d helped Vincent council on the road to reconciliation, and later led reconciliation efforts at Stirling and became a founding member of Perth council’s Elders Advisory Group.