Lowitja O'Donoghue
Encyclopedia
Ms Lowitja "Lois" O'Donoghue, AC
, CBE, DSG
(born 1 August 1932) is an Aboriginal Australian retired public administrator
.
She was named Australian of the Year
in 1984 and 1990, and was inaugural chairperson of the now dissolved Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Commission
(ATSIC).
descent. Her mother, Lily (no known surname), was a member of the Yankunytjatjara Aboriginal tribe of northwest South Australia
. Tom and Lily met while he was working at Everard Park cattle station which lay on traditional land of that clan. Lily had Luritja clan and language connections and late in life moved to their lands near Oodnadatta.
After living at Everard Park, where they had two children, the O'Donoghues moved in 1925 to Granite Downs
, a large cattle property bordering the east of the Stuart Highway
in the far north of South Australia. Their four youngest children were born here including Lowitja on 1 August 1932. Lowitja was baptised by a pastor from the United Aborigines' Mission. Her parents were concerned for the welfare and education of their children in such an isolated location as Granite Downs where there was no school, and at an early age the children were taken by their parents to the United Aborigines' Mission in Oodnadatta run by the Baptist Church. From here they were moved to the recently opened Colebrook Children's Home in Quorn
run by the Mission. Lowitja was one of the five O'Donoghue children educated there. According to the Home's records she arrived just before the age of three.
In 1979, she married Gordon Smart, a medical orderly at the Repatriation Hospital whom she had first met in 1964. He died in 1991. Following her retirement O'Donoghue formally added the name Lowitja to her existing legal name to give emphasis to her Aboriginal Luritja clan descent.
In 1944 Colebrook Home moved to Eden Hills
in the south of Adelaide
due to chronic water shortages. This enabled Lowitja to go to Unley High School
, a local public school, and obtain her Intermediate Certificate
. She was taught up until the Leaving Certificate standard but did not sit for the examination.
While at Colebrook Home the elder children assisted in taking care of younger children. Thus, with this experience, at the age of 16, Lowitja O'Donoghue's first job was as a nanny looking after six children with a family in Victor Harbor
some 100 km south of Adelaide. While attending the Baptist church there she was persuaded by the Matron of the South Coast District Hospital to take up nursing as a career.
policy at that time was to only take nursing students who had obtained their Leaving Certificate so initially they would not consider taking her. Fortunately the Hospital shortly afterwards introduced a scheme to allow deserving students to be accepted without the necessary educational qualifications. In 1954, O'Donoghue was in the first intake of unqualified students to attend the Royal Adelaide Hospital
which offered good nursing career prospects. She qualified as a nurse and worked at the Royal Adelaide Hospital until 1961, being appointed a charge nurse just before leaving.
, northern India
as a nurse relieving missionaries who were taking leave back in Australia. Due to the nearby Sino-Indian War
she was advised by the Australian government to evacuate to Calcutta
from where she returned to Australia.
a position she held until 1996. In 1991, she, along with Alf Bamblett and Steve Gordon, became the Aboriginal people to attend a Cabinet meeting. Ms O'Donoghue used this occasion to put ATSIC's position forward with regard to the government's response to the Royal Commission into Aboriginal Deaths in Custody
.
In December 1992, Ms O'Donoghue became the first Australian Aboriginal person to address the United Nations General Assembly
during the launch of the United Nations International Year of Indigenous People. She was replaced as Chairperson by Gatjil Djerrkura
, who was considered by the Howard Government to be more moderate.
founded by the Labor
Australian Commonwealth Government. The award was in recognition of her work in the welfare field.
Lowitja O'Donoghue was made a Commander of the Order of the British Empire in 1983, and was named Australian of the Year
in 1984, for her work to improve the welfare of Australian Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people. She was made a Companion of the Order of Australia (AC) in 1999.
O'Donoghue has received honorary doctorates
from Murdoch University
, the University of South Australia
, the Australian National University
, the Queensland University of Technology
and Flinders University
. In 2000 she was made an honorary professorial fellow at Flinders University
and was a visiting fellow at Flinders University.
She is a National Patron at the The Bob Hawke Prime Ministerial Centre.
O'Donoghue was inducted into the Olympic Order
in 2000.
In 2005 O'Donoghue was made Dame of the Order of St Gregory the Great by Pope John Paul II
.
Order of Australia
The Order of Australia is an order of chivalry established on 14 February 1975 by Elizabeth II, Queen of Australia, "for the purpose of according recognition to Australian citizens and other persons for achievement or for meritorious service"...
, CBE, DSG
Dames of Malta
Dames of Malta are female members of the Sovereign Military Hospitaller Order of St. John of Jerusalem, of Rhodes, and of Malta. Their male counterparts are the Knights of Malta.Prominent living Dames of Malta include:*Dr Evelyn Billings*Anne Burke...
(born 1 August 1932) is an Aboriginal Australian retired public administrator
Public administration
Public Administration houses the implementation of government policy and an academic discipline that studies this implementation and that prepares civil servants for this work. As a "field of inquiry with a diverse scope" its "fundamental goal.....
.
She was named Australian of the Year
Australian of the Year
Since 1960 the Australian of the Year Award has been part of the celebrations surrounding Australia Day , during which time the award has grown steadily in significance to become Australia’s pre-eminent award. The Australian of the Year announcement has become a very prominent part of the annual...
in 1984 and 1990, and was inaugural chairperson of the now dissolved Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Commission
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Commission
The Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Commission was the Australian Government body through which Aboriginal Australians and Torres Strait Islanders were formally involved in the processes of government affecting their lives...
(ATSIC).
Personal life
Lowitja O'Donoghue was the fifth of six children of the de facto marriage of Tom and Lily O'Donoghue. Her father was a stockman of IrishIrish Australian
Irish Australians have played a long and enduring part in Australia's history. Many came to Australia in the eighteenth century as settlers or as convicts, and contributed to Australia's development in many different areas....
descent. Her mother, Lily (no known surname), was a member of the Yankunytjatjara Aboriginal tribe of northwest South Australia
South Australia
South Australia is a state of Australia in the southern central part of the country. It covers some of the most arid parts of the continent; with a total land area of , it is the fourth largest of Australia's six states and two territories.South Australia shares borders with all of the mainland...
. Tom and Lily met while he was working at Everard Park cattle station which lay on traditional land of that clan. Lily had Luritja clan and language connections and late in life moved to their lands near Oodnadatta.
After living at Everard Park, where they had two children, the O'Donoghues moved in 1925 to Granite Downs
Granite Downs
Granite Downs is a 9000 km2 former cattle station in arid northern South Australia. It is now part of the Anangu Pitjantjatjara Yankunytjatjara lands.-Birds:...
, a large cattle property bordering the east of the Stuart Highway
Stuart Highway
The Stuart Highway is one of Australia's major highways. It is a segment of Australia's Highway 1 extending from Darwin, Northern Territory, in the north, via Tennant Creek and Alice Springs, to Port Augusta, South Australia, in the south—a distance of...
in the far north of South Australia. Their four youngest children were born here including Lowitja on 1 August 1932. Lowitja was baptised by a pastor from the United Aborigines' Mission. Her parents were concerned for the welfare and education of their children in such an isolated location as Granite Downs where there was no school, and at an early age the children were taken by their parents to the United Aborigines' Mission in Oodnadatta run by the Baptist Church. From here they were moved to the recently opened Colebrook Children's Home in Quorn
Quorn, South Australia
Quorn is a township and railhead in the Flinders Ranges in the north of South Australia, 39 km northeast of Port Augusta. At the 2006 census, Quorn had a population of 1068.Quorn is the home of the Flinders Ranges Council local government area...
run by the Mission. Lowitja was one of the five O'Donoghue children educated there. According to the Home's records she arrived just before the age of three.
In 1979, she married Gordon Smart, a medical orderly at the Repatriation Hospital whom she had first met in 1964. He died in 1991. Following her retirement O'Donoghue formally added the name Lowitja to her existing legal name to give emphasis to her Aboriginal Luritja clan descent.
Education
According to O'Donoghue she was very happy living at Colebrooke and said she received a sound education both there and at the Quorn Primary School. The Quorn community at large actively encouraged children from the home to participate in local events, and assisted in the maintenance of the home. Only a few people objected to the integration.In 1944 Colebrook Home moved to Eden Hills
Eden Hills, South Australia
Eden Hills is a suburb in the Mitcham Hills area, 12 km. south of Adelaide, South Australia in the local government area of the City of Mitcham.-History:...
in the south of Adelaide
Adelaide
Adelaide is the capital city of South Australia and the fifth-largest city in Australia. Adelaide has an estimated population of more than 1.2 million...
due to chronic water shortages. This enabled Lowitja to go to Unley High School
Unley High School
Unley High School, located in Netherby, is one of the largest public high schools in South Australia. In recent years the number of students enrolled typically ranges from 1,100 to 1,300, but in the early 1960s the school had a peak enrolment of 2,000 students.The school currently has 30...
, a local public school, and obtain her Intermediate Certificate
Intermediate Certificate
The Intermediate Certificate was a certificate awarded in Australia for the successful completion of three years of high school. This was at around age 14 — what is called Year 9 today. Currently students in New South Wales can leave school at age 15. Apparently this has been the case since...
. She was taught up until the Leaving Certificate standard but did not sit for the examination.
While at Colebrook Home the elder children assisted in taking care of younger children. Thus, with this experience, at the age of 16, Lowitja O'Donoghue's first job was as a nanny looking after six children with a family in Victor Harbor
Victor Harbor, South Australia
Victor Harbor is a city located on the coast of the Fleurieu Peninsula, about 80 km south of Adelaide, South Australia. The city is the largest population centre on the peninsula, with an economy based upon agriculture, fisheries and various industries...
some 100 km south of Adelaide. While attending the Baptist church there she was persuaded by the Matron of the South Coast District Hospital to take up nursing as a career.
Victor Harbor
From 1950 to 1953 O'Donoghue worked as a nursing aide in Victor Harbor. The small hospital did not run a comprehensive training course, so with the strong support and assistance of the Matron, she applied to be a student nurse in Adelaide.Royal Adelaide Hospital
The Royal Adelaide HospitalRoyal Adelaide Hospital
The Royal Adelaide Hospital is Adelaide's largest hospital, with 680 beds. Founded in 1840, the Royal Adelaide provides tertiary health care services for South Australia and provides secondary care clinical services to residents of Adelaide's city centre and inner suburbs.The hospital is situated...
policy at that time was to only take nursing students who had obtained their Leaving Certificate so initially they would not consider taking her. Fortunately the Hospital shortly afterwards introduced a scheme to allow deserving students to be accepted without the necessary educational qualifications. In 1954, O'Donoghue was in the first intake of unqualified students to attend the Royal Adelaide Hospital
Royal Adelaide Hospital
The Royal Adelaide Hospital is Adelaide's largest hospital, with 680 beds. Founded in 1840, the Royal Adelaide provides tertiary health care services for South Australia and provides secondary care clinical services to residents of Adelaide's city centre and inner suburbs.The hospital is situated...
which offered good nursing career prospects. She qualified as a nurse and worked at the Royal Adelaide Hospital until 1961, being appointed a charge nurse just before leaving.
India
She spent time with the Baptist Church working in AssamAssam
Assam , also, rarely, Assam Valley and formerly the Assam Province , is a northeastern state of India and is one of the most culturally and geographically distinct regions of the country...
, northern India
India
India , officially the Republic of India , is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by geographical area, the second-most populous country with over 1.2 billion people, and the most populous democracy in the world...
as a nurse relieving missionaries who were taking leave back in Australia. Due to the nearby Sino-Indian War
Sino-Indian War
The Sino-Indian War , also known as the Sino-Indian Border Conflict , was a war between China and India that occurred in 1962. A disputed Himalayan border was the main pretext for war, but other issues played a role. There had been a series of violent border incidents after the 1959 Tibetan...
she was advised by the Australian government to evacuate to Calcutta
Kolkata
Kolkata , formerly known as Calcutta, is the capital of the Indian state of West Bengal. Located on the east bank of the Hooghly River, it was the commercial capital of East India...
from where she returned to Australia.
South Australian Public Servant
After returning in 1962, she worked as an Aboriginal Liaison Officer with the South Australian Department of Education. She later transferred to the SA Department of Aboriginal Affairs and was employed as a Welfare Officer based mainly in the north of the state, in particular at Coober Pedy, some 200 kilometres south of her birthplace.Department of Aboriginal Affairs
In 1967 Lowitja O'Donoghue joined the Commonwealth Public Service as a junior administrative officer in the Adelaide office of the newly formed Department of Aboriginal Affairs. After eight years she became the Director of the Department's office in South Australia, a senior officer position, responsible for the local implementation of national Aboriginal welfare policy. After a short while she left the public service and had various management/administrative roles with non-government organisations.Aboriginal Development Commission
Ms O'Donoghue was appointed by the Government as chairperson of the Aboriginal Development Commission.Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Commission
In 1990 Ms O'Donoghue was appointed Chairperson of the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander CommissionAboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Commission
The Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Commission was the Australian Government body through which Aboriginal Australians and Torres Strait Islanders were formally involved in the processes of government affecting their lives...
a position she held until 1996. In 1991, she, along with Alf Bamblett and Steve Gordon, became the Aboriginal people to attend a Cabinet meeting. Ms O'Donoghue used this occasion to put ATSIC's position forward with regard to the government's response to the Royal Commission into Aboriginal Deaths in Custody
Royal Commission into Aboriginal Deaths in Custody
The Royal Commission into Aboriginal Deaths in Custody studied and reported on the high level of deaths of Aboriginal people whilst in custody after being arrested or convicted of committing crimes. This included suicide, natural causes, medical conditions and injuries caused by police...
.
In December 1992, Ms O'Donoghue became the first Australian Aboriginal person to address the United Nations General Assembly
United Nations General Assembly
For two articles dealing with membership in the General Assembly, see:* General Assembly members* General Assembly observersThe United Nations General Assembly is one of the five principal organs of the United Nations and the only one in which all member nations have equal representation...
during the launch of the United Nations International Year of Indigenous People. She was replaced as Chairperson by Gatjil Djerrkura
Gatjil Djerrkura
Gatjil Djerrkura OAM was an Aboriginal leader and indigenous spokesman in the Northern Territory and Australia.He was a senior elder of the Wangurri Aboriginal clan of the Yolngu people...
, who was considered by the Howard Government to be more moderate.
Identity
After starting her public service career she placed increasing public emphasis on her Aboriginal heritage rather than on her Irish heritage, and became actively involved in Aboriginal politics. Lowitja was a Chairperson of the National Aboriginal Congress for a short time in the early 1980s before it was dissolved due to internal disputes on its direction.Member of the Stolen Generations
After the publication of the The Bringing them Home report in 1997, she said she preferred the word 'removed' from the word 'stolen' for her personal situation. She was the youngest child in her family, and was two years old when she was removed from her mother. After she was removed, she did not see her mother again for 33 years. During that time, her mother did not know where her family had been taken.Honours & awards
In 1976, Ms O'Donoghue was the first Aboriginal woman to be inducted into the new Order of AustraliaOrder of Australia
The Order of Australia is an order of chivalry established on 14 February 1975 by Elizabeth II, Queen of Australia, "for the purpose of according recognition to Australian citizens and other persons for achievement or for meritorious service"...
founded by the Labor
Australian Labor Party
The Australian Labor Party is an Australian political party. It has been the governing party of the Commonwealth of Australia since the 2007 federal election. Julia Gillard is the party's federal parliamentary leader and Prime Minister of Australia...
Australian Commonwealth Government. The award was in recognition of her work in the welfare field.
Lowitja O'Donoghue was made a Commander of the Order of the British Empire in 1983, and was named Australian of the Year
Australian of the Year
Since 1960 the Australian of the Year Award has been part of the celebrations surrounding Australia Day , during which time the award has grown steadily in significance to become Australia’s pre-eminent award. The Australian of the Year announcement has become a very prominent part of the annual...
in 1984, for her work to improve the welfare of Australian Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people. She was made a Companion of the Order of Australia (AC) in 1999.
O'Donoghue has received honorary doctorates
Honorary degree
An honorary degree or a degree honoris causa is an academic degree for which a university has waived the usual requirements, such as matriculation, residence, study, and the passing of examinations...
from Murdoch University
Murdoch University
Murdoch University is a public university based in Perth, Australia. It began operations as the state's second university in 1973, and accepted its first students in 1975...
, the University of South Australia
University of South Australia
The University of South Australia is a public university in the Australian state of South Australia. It was formed in 1991 with the merger of the South Australian Institute of Technology and Colleges of Advanced Education. It is the largest university in South Australia, with more than 36,000...
, the Australian National University
Australian National University
The Australian National University is a teaching and research university located in the Australian capital, Canberra.As of 2009, the ANU employs 3,945 administrative staff who teach approximately 10,000 undergraduates, and 7,500 postgraduate students...
, the Queensland University of Technology
Queensland University of Technology
Queensland University of Technology is an Australian university with an applied emphasis in courses and research. Based in Brisbane, it has 40,000 students, including 6,000 international students, over 4,000 staff members, and an annual budget of more than A$750 million.QUT is marketed as "A...
and Flinders University
Flinders University
Flinders University, , is a public university in Adelaide, South Australia. Founded in 1966, it was named in honour of navigator Matthew Flinders, who explored and surveyed the South Australian coastline in the early 19th century.The university has established a reputation as a leading research...
. In 2000 she was made an honorary professorial fellow at Flinders University
Flinders University
Flinders University, , is a public university in Adelaide, South Australia. Founded in 1966, it was named in honour of navigator Matthew Flinders, who explored and surveyed the South Australian coastline in the early 19th century.The university has established a reputation as a leading research...
and was a visiting fellow at Flinders University.
She is a National Patron at the The Bob Hawke Prime Ministerial Centre.
O'Donoghue was inducted into the Olympic Order
Olympic Order
The Olympic Order is the highest award of the Olympic Movement, created by the International Olympic Committee in May 1975 as a successor to the Olympic Certificate previously awarded. The Olympic Order originally had three grades , although the bronze grade was retired in 1984...
in 2000.
In 2005 O'Donoghue was made Dame of the Order of St Gregory the Great by Pope John Paul II
Pope John Paul II
Blessed Pope John Paul II , born Karol Józef Wojtyła , reigned as Pope of the Catholic Church and Sovereign of Vatican City from 16 October 1978 until his death on 2 April 2005, at of age. His was the second-longest documented pontificate, which lasted ; only Pope Pius IX ...
.