Lowitja O'Donoghue

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Lowitja (Lois) O'Donoghue AC CBE was born August 1st 1932, a time when the situation for Aboriginal people could not have been more desperate, in Granite Downs, South Australia, to Tom O'Donoghue and Lily (known as just Lily). She is a Yankunytjatjara Aboriginal woman who was the Inaugural Chairperson of ATSIC (the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Commission). Lois never knew her white father. At the age of two she was taken away from her mother, who she was not to see for another 33 years. Her quest to be reunited with her mother is central to her story.

O'Donoghue was named Australian of the Year in 1984 for her work to improve the welfare of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people.

She was made a Companion of the Order of Australia in 1999 and a Commander of the Order of the British Empire in 1983.

After a long struggle to win admission to a training hospital, Lois became the first black nurse in South Australia. Later, she became more involved in Aboriginal rights and worked tirelessly for her people. In 1976, Lois was the first Aboriginal woman to be awarded an Order of Australia. In 1983 she was honoured with a CBE and in 1984 she was made Australian of the Year. In March 1990 Lois became the founding chairperson of the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Commission.

Preceded by Robert de Castella

Australian of the Year 1984

Succeeded by Paul Hogan