Margaret Tucker
Encyclopedia
Margaret Lilardia Tucker (18 March 1904—23 August 1996) was an Indigenous Australian activist and writer.
Margaret Tucker was born at Warrangesda Mission to William Clements, a Wiradjuri
man and Teresa Clements, née Middleton, a Yulupna women. She spent her childhood at Cummeragunja Mission
until at the age of 13 she was forcibly removed to the Cootamundra Girls' Home where she was badly treated. After training at Cootamundra in 1919 she was sent out at work with a white family where she was abused. The Aborigines Protection Board intervened and she was given another placement from which she ran away. In 1925 the Board release her and she moved to Melbourne.
In the 1930s Tucker began campaigning for Indigenous rights with William Cooper
, Bill Onus
and Douglas Nicholls
and in 1932 was one of the founding members of the Australian Aborigines' League. During this time she married and gave birth to a daughter. At first influenced by the Communist Party of Australia
, she gravitated later towards the conservative Moral Re-Armament
movement. In the 1960s she founded the United Council of Aboriginal and Islander Women and in 1964 was the first Indigenous appointee to the Victorian Aborigines Welfare Board.
Tucker was award an Order of the British Empire
in 1968, recognising her service to her community. Her 1977 autobiography If Everyone Cared was one of the first books to bring to light the mistreatment of her people.
Margaret Tucker was born at Warrangesda Mission to William Clements, a Wiradjuri
Wiradjuri
The Wiradjuri are an Indigenous Australian group of central New South Wales.In the 21st century, major Wiradjuri groups live in Condobolin, Peak Hill, Narrandera and Griffith...
man and Teresa Clements, née Middleton, a Yulupna women. She spent her childhood at Cummeragunja Mission
Cummeragunja Mission
Cummeragunja Mission, or Cummeragunja Station, was an Australian Aboriginal mission established in 1881 on the New South Wales side of the Murray River, on the Victorian border near Barmah. The people were mostly Yorta Yorta....
until at the age of 13 she was forcibly removed to the Cootamundra Girls' Home where she was badly treated. After training at Cootamundra in 1919 she was sent out at work with a white family where she was abused. The Aborigines Protection Board intervened and she was given another placement from which she ran away. In 1925 the Board release her and she moved to Melbourne.
In the 1930s Tucker began campaigning for Indigenous rights with William Cooper
William Cooper (Aboriginal Australian)
William Cooper was an Australian Aboriginal leader.-Early life:Born in Yorta Yorta territory around the intersection of the Murray and Goulburn Rivers in Victoria, Australia, he was forced to work for a variety of pastoral employers...
, Bill Onus
Bill Onus
William Townsend Onus Jr , known as Bill Onus, was an Aboriginal Australian political activist.-Early life and education:...
and Douglas Nicholls
Douglas Nicholls
Sir Douglas Ralph "Doug" Nicholls KCVO, OBE, was a prominent Aboriginal Australian from the Yorta Yorta people. He was a professional athlete, Churches of Christ pastor and church planter, ceremonial officer and a pioneering campaigner for reconciliation.Nicholls was the first Aboriginal person to...
and in 1932 was one of the founding members of the Australian Aborigines' League. During this time she married and gave birth to a daughter. At first influenced by the Communist Party of Australia
Communist Party of Australia
The Communist Party of Australia was founded in 1920 and dissolved in 1991; it was succeeded by the Socialist Party of Australia, which then renamed itself, becoming the current Communist Party of Australia. The CPA achieved its greatest political strength in the 1940s and faced an attempted...
, she gravitated later towards the conservative Moral Re-Armament
Moral Re-Armament
Moral Re-Armament was an international Christian moral and spiritual movement that, in 1938, developed from the American minister Frank Buchman's Oxford Group. Buchman, a Lutheran, headed MRA for 23 years, from 1938 until his death in 1961...
movement. In the 1960s she founded the United Council of Aboriginal and Islander Women and in 1964 was the first Indigenous appointee to the Victorian Aborigines Welfare Board.
Tucker was award an Order of the British Empire
Order of the British Empire
The Most Excellent Order of the British Empire is an order of chivalry established on 4 June 1917 by George V of the United Kingdom. The Order comprises five classes in civil and military divisions...
in 1968, recognising her service to her community. Her 1977 autobiography If Everyone Cared was one of the first books to bring to light the mistreatment of her people.
External links
- As Long as She Got Her Voice article on editing If Everyone Cared