Les Bursill

Who is Les Bursill?

Leslie William Bursill is a Dharawal historian, archaeologist, anthropologist, and publisher, born in Hurstville, New South Wales, on 4 February 1945. His father Wallace Richard Bursill was serving in the 7th Div AIF in New Guinea at the time of Bursill's birth. Although Bursill is strongly identified with the Dharawal of southern Sydney, his maternal Dharawal forebears hailed from the area between Kangaroo Valley and the coast near Nowra. Les Bursill was made a Justice of the Peace at Sutherland Court House in 1976. In 1995 he was appointed Lecturer in Mental Health and Counselling at the University of Sydney. He was awarded the Australia Centenary Medal in 2001. In 2007 he was awarded the NSW Police Commanders Award for excellence in teaching. In 2008 he was appointed Adjunct Lecturer at Charles Sturt University, Wagga Wagga. In 2009 he was awarded a Premiers Heritage Volunteer Award and also received a Certificate of Excellence for Teaching from the Australian College of Educators. He also received the Order of Australia Medal in that same year.