Oodgeroo Noonuccal was a poet an actress, writer, teacher, artist and a campaigner for Aboriginal rights. Oodgeroo grew up on North Stradbroke Island, near Brisbane. Here, surrounded by the sea and the bush land she’d wander off for hours exploring.

Oodgeroo used to say she got her stubborness from her father. It came out at school when the teachers forced her to write with her right hand, even though she was left handed. Young Oodgeroo suffered many blows across the back of her left knuckles before she finally gave in. Her father also taught her to be pround of her Aboriginality.

Nature became very important to her. Oodgeroo began writing poems when she was young, but it wasn’t until she was in her forties that a well known writer encouraged Oodgeroo to publish them.

In the 1960’s, Oodgeroo campaigned for Aboriginal rights. Until then Aboriginal Australians didn’t even have the right to vote. Oodgeroo fought for equality. She travelled across Australia, giving as many as ten talks a day. The campaign was successful. In 1967 Aboriginal Australians could finally have an equal say in how their country was run.

Oodgeroo invited children, both black and white, to share her land and learn the Aboriginal ways.

When Oodgeroo Noonuccal died hundreds of people mourned, but that’s not what she wanted. Oodgeroo wanted people to celebrate her achievements and to continue working for true understanding between all Australians.

Oodgeroo Noonuccal is a great part of Australian history and I look up to her and her great achievements.