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Declan James Affley (1939–1985)

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Declan James (‘Dec’) Affley (1939-1985) musician, seaman, socialist and Irish nationalist

Birth: 8 September 1939 at Cardiff, Glamorgan, South Wales, son of Irish-born James Affley (1906-1987), labourer and amateur musician, and Winifred Anne, née Samuel (1903-1994), born at Cardiff. Marriage: 11 December 1967 at the office of the Government Statist, Melbourne, to Colleen Zeita Burke a stenographer and poet. They had one daughter and one son. Death: 28 June 1985 at Glebe, Sydney, New South Wales.  

  • Became seaman aged sixteen. Studied music at the London School of Music.
  • Arrived in Sydney in 1960 and became a major figure in the Australian folk and political scene, playing fiddle, pipes and barong.
  • Two record collections, including When the Pub Burnt Down. Jobs included being ‘wandering minstrel’ at Old Sydney Town, part-time teacher of fiddle and pipes at Koori, ‘Eora’ Centre, Redfern and frequent busker in the city claiming that ‘music should be free and for all the people’.
  • Several film parts including Strikebound in which he acted the part of a Welsh miner.
  • Dedicated socialist and Irish nationalist.
  • Cause of death: dissecting aneurysm of the aorta.

Sources
Tribune, 10 July 1985.

This person appears as a part of the Australian Dictionary of Biography, Volume 17. [View Article]

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Citation details

'Affley, Declan James (1939–1985)', People Australia, National Centre of Biography, Australian National University, https://peopleaustralia.anu.edu.au/biography/affley-declan-james-12121/text44337, accessed 27 June 2025.

© Copyright People Australia, 2012

Life Summary [details]

Birth

8 September, 1939
Cardiff, South Glamorgan, Wales

Death

27 June, 1985 (aged 45)
Newtown, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia

Cause of Death

aneurysm

Cultural Heritage

Includes subject's nationality; their parents' nationality; the countries in which they spent a significant part of their childhood, and their self-identity.

Religious Influence

Includes the religion in which subjects were raised, have chosen themselves, attendance at religious schools and/or religious funeral rites; Atheism and Agnosticism have been included.

Occupation or Descriptor
Legacies