Oodgeroo Noonuccal (1920–1993) was a Quandamooka woman, activist, poet, writer and educator. Born in Minjerribah (North Stradbroke Island), she became Queensland State Secretary of the Federal Council for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Advancement in 1961, and campaigned successfully for amendments to Sections 51(xxvi) and 127 of the Constitution in 1967. Throughout her life, she aimed to promote cultural pride among Aboriginal people through her writing, which she described as 'sloganistic, civil rightish, plain and simple'. Her first book of poetry, We are Going, was published in 1964. Noonuccal returned to Minjerribah in 1971 where she taught Aboriginal culture to thousands of school children, and published two children's books. Having gained world acclaim for her writing and advocacy (for which she was also conferred with four honorary doctorates), she published her last collection of poems, Kath Walker in China, in 1988. That year, she reassumed her tribal name in protest at the Bicentennial celebrations, and returned the MBE she had been awarded in 1970.
Although Noonuccal had a reputation for fierceness, George Fetting invited her to be included in his exhibition of prominent Australian women, and found her very welcoming. He photographed her at her modest home on Minjerribah; this singular and searching image is the lasting legacy of his visit.
Gift of the artist 2010
© George Fetting/Copyright Agency, 2021
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![Kath Walker [Oodgeroo Noonuccal]](/files/9/2/f/d/i5195-th.jpg "Kath Walker [Oodgeroo Noonuccal]")
