Harry Hewitt

First Indigenous Australian to play in SANFL.

It was said that as a cricketer Hewitt possessed a "very fine late cut stroke". Hewitt was described as having an "unusual stance at the wicket, but knew how to hit the ball with considerable power—and where to place it". In regards to his running between the wickets it was stated that "Harry would be at the opposite wicket almost before the other fellow knew what was happening".</blockquote>

In the 1880s Hewitt fished in the Inman River with his friend Leonard Lovegrove. In his later years Hewitt sought to make a living as a fisherman in Milang.</blockquote>

On the nights of 29 and 30 May 1885 members of Point McLeay performed two corroborees on Adelaide Oval. The corroboree was originally going to take place on Jubilee Oval but John Creswell of the South Australian Cricket Association intervened close to the staging of the event and successfully negotiated for the use of Adelaide Oval in exchange for half the event's ticket proceeds. It was estimated that 20,000 spectators were present for the corroborate on the night of 29 May. This attendance represented one sixth of Adelaide's population and was the largest event staged at Adelaide Oval in the nineteenth century. On 10 February 1905 Hewitt personally organised a corroboree with 20 other Indigenous Australians in Victor Harbour and it was said "almost the whole town turned out to witness the event". Hewitt's self organised corroboree was considered notable by historian Michael Parsons for three reasons being that it was "independently organised", deliberately located in a tourist area, that being Victor Harbour, and featured "war dance" and "actions of warlike character".

Hewitt met Sir Edward Lucas in Victor Harbour and taught the latter how to throw a boomerang. Later when Lucas was appointed Agent General in London, he would provide demonstrations of throwing the boomerang in London's Regent's Park crediting Hewitt for his proficiency.

As early as the 1880s Hewitt espoused his proudness of being a member of the Blue Ribbon Army temperance movement. On 3 June 1885 Hewitt addressed an audience in the Adelaide City Mission praising temperance. He would do the same fortnightly at the Point Macleay Mission urging locals to the claims of temperance and would organise men to play football games in Adelaide who were members of the Blue Ribbon Army.

Hewitt was a Bungandidj man. Hewitt's first wife was Mary Unaipon. Mary was the daughter of James Unaipon and the brother of David. Ruth was a pianist. Mary died in 1891. Hewitt's second marriage was to Agnes. Hewitt fathered a son with Agnes called Oliver. Oliver served as a private for Australia during World War 1. Hewitt was said to be "remarkably good" at English. It was stated that had Hewitt been provided an education at a young age he would have "made a fine business man". He was noted to have "excelled as an acrobat and gymnast, and was for some time connected with a travelling circus". By 1907 Hewitt had become employed as a boatman by the Point McLeay Mission. That year he was in charge of a boat named the "Teen Minnie". At one point in time Hewitt was associated with the Salvation Army and attained the rank of corporal in that organisation. Hewitt was also a noted swimmer. At the trial, which was for manslaughter, the jury accepted the argument that the stick produced could not have caused the fatal injury, and if he had struck the much stronger Hewitt, it was in self defence, so returned a verdict of "not guilty". When Hewitt was buried his dog loyally stayed by his grave. Following Hewitt's death the Ngarrindjeri observing their own laws, did not visit the site. On 13 November 1930 a letter in the Observer by D. H. Griffin, the Mayor of Victor Harbour, emphatically held that Hewitt was not under the influence of alcohol at the time of his death. D. H. Griffin goes on to insinuate that Hewitt was murdered by being beaten to death with a hammer.