Thread by @LindaDHoward

🖤💛❤️ Friends....
Do you know who Oodgeroo Noonuccal is?

Oodgeroo Noonuccal aka Kath Walker (1920-1993) was an Aboriginal rights activist, poet, veteran, artist & educator.
She was best known for her poetry, & was the first Aboriginal Aust to publish a book of verse.
(Thread)

Oodgeroo Noonuccal was born in Minjerribah (Nth Stradbroke Island ) Qld in 1920. Her father, Edward, was a Quandamooka man from the Noonuccal Clan from the area around Moreton Bay & Stradbroke Island & her mother, Lucy, was of the Peewee clan from inland Australia.

In 1942, aged 21, she enlisted in Aust Women’s Army Service (AWAS) “I joined the AWAS principally because I didn’t accept fascism as a way of life, but it was also one of only two ways for an Aboriginal to further their Education: in jail or the Army... and I didn’t fancy jail!”

Following her military service, began to write poetry & in 1964, became the first published Aboriginal poet in Australia. Her poetry strongly reflected Aboriginal culture and her political beliefs. She went on to win multiple awards.

SBS on demand: (3 mins) Oodgeroo Noonuccal
sbs.com.au/ondemand/video…
Australian Screen: (3:02 mins) mins Oodgeroo Noonuccal and the story that lead to her writing the now famous poem “the dispossessed”

From the 1960s she increased in prominence as an Aboriginal leader & activist. She was elected as Qld State Secretary of the Federal Council for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Advancement (FCAATSI) & was a member of the Qld Aboriginal Advancement League executive.

Oodgeroo & FCAATSI were prominent leaders in the 1967 referendum.
Aboriginal people were no longer subject to 6 different systems of law depending on which state they lived & it was hoped that new national laws would be created to promote rights & equality for Aboriginal people.

While campaigning for ‘Yes’ vote Oodgeroo famously met PM Robert Menzies who offered her a glass of sherry. She then informed him he could be arrested, as it was illegal to offer Aboriginal ppl alcohol & this challenged Menzies to rethink some of his views about Aboriginal ppl.

(1:17 mins) Kath Walker & Faith Bandler; meeting Prime Minister Robert Menzies - 1967

Visiting China In October, 1984, Oodgeroo Noonuccal (then Kath Walker) visited China as part of a group led by the famous Australian historian Manning.
The presentation she gave during visit: slideplayer.com/slide/17565579/

In 1971, Oodgeroo returned to Minjerribah (Stradbroke Island) where she started a learning centre named Moongalba (the sitting-down place). She taught about Aboriginal culture & Country to the visitors who came to the island.
redlandcitybulletin.com.au/story/6944197/… (what an amazing centre 🤗)

Awards: Mary Gilmore medal (1970), Jessie Litchfield Award (1975), International Acting Award & Fellowship of Aust Writers Award.

In 1987 she famously returned her MBE (Member of the Order of the British Empire) in protest of the bicentennial celebration of Australia Day.

Oodgeroo passed away in September 1993, with many coming to farewell her at her funeral in Minjerribah.
She is remembered by many as a charismatic, strong leader whose beautiful poetry captured both the strength of Aboriginal culture, while standing up for Aboriginal rights.

“ no more boomerang” written by #Oodgeroo #Noonuccal
performed by the Australian String Quartet and Katie Noonan - 2019



🖤💛❤️ 🖤💛❤️ Utmost respect, love & gratitude
- Vale Oodgeroo xx

References:
deadlystory.com/page/culture/a…

press-files.anu.edu.au/downloads/pres…

poetrylibrary.edu.au/poets/noonucca…

qut.edu.au/about/oodgeroo…

qld.gov.au/__data/assets/…

notablebiographies.com/supp/Supplemen…

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(2:53 mins) Vote YES - 1967 referendum SBS