Oodgeroo Noonuccal (1920–1993), Quandamooka activist, poet, writer and educator, was 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 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.
Juno Gemes took this portrait of Noonuccal at home, her 'sitting down place', at Moongalba on Minjerribah. In the photograph she wears a 'Black Australia Brisbane 1982' t-shirt, referring to her participation in the National Lands Rights Action before the Commonwealth Games in Brisbane that year.
Gift of the artist 2009
© Juno Gemes/Copyright Agency, 2024
Juno Gemes (22 portraits)
On one level The Companion talks about the most famous and frontline Australians, but on another it tells us about ourselves.
Krysia Kitch celebrates Oodgeroo Noonuccal.
Dr Sarah Engledow explores the portraits of writers held in the National Portrait Gallery's collection.
