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https://theconversation.com/indigenous-trailblazer-lowitja-odonoghue-dies-aged-91-222724>
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Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander readers are advised this article
contains the name and images of a deceased person.
One of Australia’s most highly-regarded Indigenous leaders, Dr Lowitja
O’Donoghue, has died aged 91.
O'Donoghue, a Yankunytjatjara woman, was the inaugural chair of the Aboriginal
and Torres Strait Islander Commission from 1990 to 1996, and a leading figure
in debates over Indigenous rights and policy for multiple decades.
She suffered, and triumphed over, the privations and struggles of so many
Aboriginal people, including being removed from her mother as a toddler and
handed over to missionaries.
After facing initial resistance to her desire to enter nursing, because she
lacked the required scholastic qualification, she became the first Aboriginal
trainee nurse at the Royal Adelaide Hospital.
Later she was the first woman to be a regional director of an Australian
federal department.
She was involved in Indigenous causes ranging in scope from the 1967 referendum
to the native title legislation of the 1990s.
In 1984 she was Australian of the Year; in 1999 she became a Companion of the
Order of Australia – the top honour – “for public service through leadership to
Indigenous and non-Indigenous Australians in the areas of human rights and
social justice”.
Her family said in a statement announcing her death: “Aunty Lowitja dedicated
her entire lifetime of work to the rights, health, and wellbeing of Aboriginal
and Torres Strait Islander peoples”."
RIP,
*** Xanni ***
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mailto:xanni@xanadu.net Andrew Pam
http://xanadu.com.au/ Chief Scientist, Xanadu
https://glasswings.com.au/ Partner, Glass Wings
https://sericyb.com.au/ Manager, Serious Cybernetics
