Meet a 'Logan Legend' – Uncle Ted Williams
Meet the 8 Logan Legends inspiring our city – and share the legend in your life with us.
A retired teacher and Yugambeh elder, Uncle Ted Williams has spent 40 years shaping young minds, sharing culture and quietly building a legacy rooted in respect, education and community.
Uncle Ted moved from Brisbane to Logan in the 1970s through his teaching postings at various schools and Griffith University campuses.
‘Over the past 50 years I’ve grown to love the place not just for its location, but for its multicultural nature. Logan is a microcosm of Australia,’ Uncle Ted says.
Uncle Ted says his journey into education began as a physical education teacher because it combined his two loves: school and sport.
Uncle Ted Williams: First Nations Elder supporting proud roots and a shared future
The Beenleigh local has enjoyed a career spanning preschool to university, with a special focus on upper primary and Indigenous studies. Uncle Ted says teaching was always more than just academic content.
‘I liked having a class come to me in January and leave in December better than when they arrived: socially, cognitively, and hopefully as better readers,’ he says.
Uncle Ted’s impact as a teacher is still felt today, with former students frequently stopping him in the streets of Logan to say hello. He’s even educated children of the children he once taught.
But the Logan local’s connection to the city runs deeper than geography.
His grandfather’s grandfather, Bilin, was a Gugingin man who lived in the Logan and Albert valleys and worked closely with Pastor Haussmann during the establishment of the Eagleby mission in the 1860s.
‘It’s important to me that Bilin’s contributions are recognised, as well as the fact that the Logan area has been inhabited by people for tens of thousands of years,’ he says.
Uncle Ted’s connection was honoured on the world stage when he was invited to speak at Buckingham Palace in London during the launch of the Queen’s Baton Relay for the 2018 Gold Coast Commonwealth Games.
ABOVE: Uncle Ted Williams speaking at Buckingham Palace in London, alongside dignitaries including the late Queen Elizabeth II, standing on the left.
‘It was good to see that organisers wanted a serious Aboriginal connection,’ he says. ‘I was proud to speak and represent our people.’
Looking ahead to the 2032 Brisbane Olympics and Paralympics, Uncle Ted hopes First Nations people will be given due recognition and respect.
‘I would like people to understand they’re travelling through ancient lands,’ Uncle Ted says.
‘Logan’s multicultural community is perfectly placed to benefit from the Games. I’m very confident that every visiting team will find a connected community within the city.’
Ted’s passion for Logan is evident in the way he speaks about its people and places. He enjoys bushwalking at Eagleby Wetlands and Plunkett Reserve, and sees Logan as ‘a centre of everywhere, not the middle of nowhere’.
‘Logan has so much to offer. It’s easy to pass through and not see it, but if you look, you’ll find beauty, diversity and harmony.’
While modest about the impact he’s had, Uncle Ted’s influence is undeniable.
‘I’m not looking to be a leader,’ he says. ‘I just want to be useful. If my skills can help, I’m happy to contribute.’
His legacy? ‘To not leave a mess behind,’ he says with a chuckle. ‘I hope the children I’ve taught are reasonable members of society. That’s enough for me.’
In a city defined by diversity, Uncle Ted stands as a quiet example of wisdom, humility, and hope, an elder whose voice continues to guide Logan toward a future built on understanding, respect and unity.
Uncle Ted Williams reminds us that we walk on ancient lands held together by culture and community. Discover more Logan Legends and help us spotlight another quiet achiever by sharing their story. loganlegends.au