A State Funeral Service for Professor Peter Buckskin AM PSM, a proud Narungga man from Guuranda (Yorke Peninsula), will take place at 10.30 am on Friday, 12 June 2026 at St Francis of Assisi Catholic Church, Kaurna Country, Newton, South Australia.
Professor Buckskin was one of Australia’s most influential Aboriginal education leaders, whose four-decade career shaped policy, strengthened institutions and improved rights and educational outcomes for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples in Australia and internationally.
In 2001, Professor Buckskin was awarded the Public Service Medal for outstanding public service in the provision of educational equality for Australia's Indigenous peoples. In 2026, Professor Buckskin was appointed a Member of the Order of Australia for significant service to the Indigenous community through education, research, and advocacy roles.
Details regarding the service and online condolences are available on the South Australian Government website.
As a mark of mourning and respect, the Australian National Flag should be flown at half-mast all day on Friday, 12 June 2026 in South Australia from all buildings and establishments occupied by Australian Government departments and affiliated agencies. Other organisations are welcome to participate.
- When flying the Australian National Flag with other flags, all flags in the set should be flown at half-mast.
- If a set of flags includes the flags of other nations, it would be appropriate to seek permission from the diplomatic representatives of that nation to half-mast their flag.
- An acceptable half-mast position would be when the top of the flag is a third of the distance down from the top of the flagpole.
- Information on flag protocol is available the Department's website.
Your assistance is appreciated.
Commonwealth Flag Officer