Dr O’Donoghue was a Yankunytjatjara woman, who dedicated her life to advancing the rights, health and wellbeing of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples.
Named Australian of the Year in 1984, some of Dr O’Donoghue’s pioneering achievements included being the first Aboriginal person permitted to train as a nurse at the Royal Adelaide Hospital, obtaining triple certificate qualifications in nursing, midwifery, and mental health; inaugural Chairperson of the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Commission (ATSIC); and the first Aboriginal person to address the United Nations General Assembly.
Dr O’Donoghue died peacefully at the age of 91 in 2024. A new exhibition, LOWITJA – A life of leadership and legacy, runs from 4 June – 25 July at the Bob Hawke Prime Ministerial Centre in Adelaide. The exhibition was curated by Dr O’Donoghue’s niece, Deb Edwards, who is also Head of the Lowitja O’Donoghue Foundation.
Deb recently shared her thoughts about the exhibition, and some special memories of her beloved aunt, in this Q&A with The Wyatt Trust.
How was the process of assembling this exhibition for you? Is there a particular item that particularly moved you?
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Curating
the exhibition was both exciting and a little overwhelming. I have been surrounded by my aunt’s personal belongings for several years, ever
since she moved out of her home and into aged care. I wanted to hold onto them instead of adding them to her collections at several
libraries and universities, because I was very focused on the prospect of being about to produce an exhibition. Many of the items were so important to her, and they also depict my family, my mother for example. Therefore, I’d have to say that being so personally invested in the items was quite emotional for this first-time curator.
I think visitors to the exhibition will be very surprised to see some never-seen-before photographs of Lowitja. Those images move me because she is so young and carefree. The public haven’t seen her that way, and it is a long road from the heartbreak of her early childhood.
Dr O’Donoghue received many awards and accolades over her lifetime. Was there a particular honour or achievement that she was most proud of?
The achievement of becoming the first Aboriginal nurse permitted to train at the Royal Adelaide Hospital from 1954 after many years of being turned away because of discrimination and racism, that was her proudest moment. She achieved triple qualifications in nursing, midwifery and mental health and she rose through the ranks to Charge Sister.
What was the most valuable thing you learned from Dr O’Donoghue? Is there a favourite memory of her you’d be willing to share?
I could not have been more lucky and privileged to have been loved and have such a close personal relationship my Auntie Lowitja. We had a very close bond right from when I was a young baby, through to the end of her life. We had so many wonderful memories, but the best were probably those when she’d make me laugh and be very un-Lowitja like! She could actually be very cheeky.
Another
would be her pride and happiness when I became a mum to Ruby in 2001. Having never had children herself, she doted on me and when Ruby came
along, I was very quickly ousted. Traditional Anangu way, she now had a granddaughter, and I gave that to her. I know how much it meant to
her.She taught me to always be respectful of others and their opinions and to be true to your word. There’s right and wrong, and wrong was never her way. I think I also learned about the power of trust from Lowitja, she entrusted me with her legacy, and I won’t ever let her down.
How would you describe Dr O’Donoghue as a leader in three words?
Courageous. Inspirational. Self-determined.
What role do you think philanthropy can play in extending Dr O’Donoghue’s legacy and ensuring more just, respectful and self-determined futures for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples?
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples know what is best for them, their communities, and families. As a new Foundation, I want to only enter into partnerships of equal reciprocity and understanding. Matching beliefs and values. Working together with integrity for purpose. My Foundation bears her name, she agreed that we should continue the work.
Philanthropy can play a role through understanding the importance of trusting us to know what works best. Very few people doubted Lowitja O’Donoghue’s word when they were engaging with her. I know what I need to do to create practical change, I want and need incredible and passionate funders to help me to create a sustainable future for the Foundation where our people can truly see what they can be – through her name, stories and lifetime of dedicated work.
You’ve been entrusted with an enormous legacy. If there’s one thing you hope visitors to the exhibition come away with, what would that be?
I’d
want them to come away with having allowed themselves to step into the shoes of an incredible woman who never gave up fighting for her
people. Everything that she did was for the betterment of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people, not for self. Lowitja always wanted Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal people to work together. I hope that our visitors will learn something they didn’t know (either about her or Aboriginal people) and intentionally share it with others.
Book a group guided tour of the exhibition here.
Support the work of the Lowitja O'Donoghue Foundation here.
Read more about Dr O’Donoghue’s extraordinary life of service.
Photos courtesy of Deb Edwards
