Oodgeroo Noonuccal (topic-women in history with significant impact on their community)
...nal woman in Australia to have a book of poetry published. Her poetry speaks of hope for understanding and peace between all Australians; black and white. When she was young she began writing poetry but it wasn’t until 1964, when her first collection of verses, ‘We Are Going’ was published. Two years later she published her second collection of verse, ‘The Dream Is At Hand’. Then in 1970 she produced ‘My People’ which represented a verse from the earlier editions as well as new poems, short stories, essays and speeches. A further two years onwards Oodgeroo published Stradbroke Dreamtime. Oodgeroo also wrote numerous children’s books; Father Sky and Mother Earth in 1981, Little Fella in 1986 and The Rainbow Serpent in 1988 with her son. Oodgeroo kept writing, and became recognised around the world as an outstanding poet. Her aboriginal upbringing was her main inspiration. Oodgeroo was also involved with the National Tribal Council, the Aboriginal Arts Board, the Aboriginal Housing Committee, and the Queensland Aboriginal Advancement League. Her work was recognised by many organizations and for this she received many awards including the Mary Gilmore Medal in 1970, the Jesse Litchfield Award in 1975, the International Acting Award and the Fellowship of Australian Writers’ Award. However, in 1972 she withdrew from all involvement with political organizations and went to live in semi-retirement in a leasehold property or as the Aboriginal people call it a Moongalba. This Moongalba was on Minjerribah. This was when she established the Noonuccal-Nughie Education and Cultural Centre, where she regularly conducted programs for groups of school students and visitors. When Oodgeroo died thousands of people were devastated. However she didn’t want people to mourn she wanted them to celebrate her achievements and continue working for the understanding between white and black Australians. Today many people recognise her work as something, which changed the nation. Throughout the years in which Oodgeroo was alive she contributed a lot to her religious community. Her contributions started around the 1960’s when she campaigned for Aboriginal rights, she did this because before then Aboriginals didn’t even have the freedom of ...