People Australia

  • searches all National Centre of Biography websites
  • searches all National Centre of Biography websites
  • searches all National Centre of Biography websites

Browse People:

Browse Lists:

Cultural Advice

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people should be aware that this website contains names, images, and voices of deceased persons.

In addition, some articles contain terms or views that were acceptable within mainstream Australian culture in the period in which they were written, but may no longer be considered appropriate.

These articles do not necessarily reflect the views of The Australian National University.

Older articles are being reviewed with a view to bringing them into line with contemporary values but the original text will remain available for historical context.

Declan James Affley (1939–1985)

This article was published:

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]

Additional Resources and Scholarship

Related Entries in NCB Sites

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 4 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