Archie Roach

Archie Roach

Uncle Archie Roach AM (1956-2022) was a beloved musician, storyteller, and truth-teller whose impact on Australian music and social justice endures well beyond his passing in 2022. Inducted into the ARIA Hall of Fame and named 2020 Victorian Australian of the Year, Uncle Archie spent decades at the heart of Australia’s cultural and spiritual life, using his voice to share the struggles, hopes and dreams of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples.

Born in Mooroopna and later moved to Framlingham Aboriginal Mission in south-west Victoria, Uncle Archie’s life was profoundly shaped by being forcibly removed from his family at the age of two – a member of the Stolen Generations.

His acclaimed song Took the Children Away, from the 1990 debut album Charcoal Lane, was one of the first songs to bring the trauma of child removal to national and international audiences. The song was awarded a Human Rights Achievement Award in 2000, a rare honour for a piece of music.

Throughout his life, Uncle Archie continued to share his story and uplift others through words and music. In 2019, he published his memoir and accompanying album Tell Me Why, and in 2021, launched Archie’s Kitchen Table Yarns, an online series spotlighting emerging First Nations songwriters and musicians.

Uncle Archie was a proud patron of WRAD Health, Uncle Archie’s lived experience continues to inspire and remains as a posthumous patron. “Recovering from alcoholism is part of my story,” he shared. “It’s so important for people with alcohol and drug problems to have a service like WRAD Health that they can access for help. Rehab, as well as my music, saved my life.”

WRAD Health honours Uncle Archie Roach’s legacy with deep respect and gratitude for his enduring support, advocacy, and the transformative power of his voice.