State funeral to be held for renowned Aboriginal leader, Australian of the Year Dr Lowitja O’Donoghue

A state funeral will be held to honour the life and legacy of late Aboriginal rights trailblazer Dr Lowitja O’Donoghue.

Dr Lowitja O’Donohue.

*Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander readers are advised that this article contains name and images of deceased person

A state funeral to honour the extraordinary life of renowned Aboriginal leader and former Australian of the Year Dr Lowitja O’Donoghue will be held at St Peter’s Cathedral on Kaurna country at 1pm on Friday ,March 8.

Members of the public are welcome to attend the service which will honour her dedication to improving the rights, health and wellbeing of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples.

The Yankunytatjara leader and matriarch died aged 91 on February 4 with her immediate family by her side on Kaurna country in Adelaide.

Widely recognised as one of the greatest Aboriginal leaders of all time, Dr O’Donoghue was a fearless and passionate advocate for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples.

As a young woman she fought against racial discrimination to become South Australia’s first Aboriginal trainee nurse at the Royal Adelaide Hospital.

She then went on to become the first woman to be a regional director of an Australian federal department, holding responsibility for the local implementation of national Aboriginal welfare policy.

Dr O’Donoghue also played a pivotal part in drafting the Native Title legislation that arose from the High Court’s historic Mabo decision and was appointed as a founding chairperson of the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Commission.

Lowitja O'Donoghue as charge sister at Royal Adelaide Hospital in 1959. Picture: Lowitja O'Donoghue Collection

She played a pivotal role in drafting the Native Title legislation through her negotiations with former Prime Minister Paul Keating following the High Court’s historic Mabo decision and was appointed as a founding chairperson of the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Commission.

In 2008, she provided counsel for then Prime Minister Kevin Rudd on the historic Apology to the Stolen Generations.

Her tireless advocacy earned her numerous distinguished honours throughout her lifetime, including becoming the first Aboriginal woman to be made a member of the Order of Australia, being awarded Australian of the Year in 1984 and then in 1988 being named an Australian National Living Treasure.

She was invested as a Commander of the Order of the British Empire in 1983, a Companion of the Order of Australia in 1999, and as a Dame of the Order of St Gregory the Great in 2006 while also receiving many honorary doctorates from Universities around Australia.

Working at Department of Aboriginal Affairs during the 1970s. Picture: Lowitja O'Donoghue Collection

Premier Peter Malinauskas said the state funeral would recognise her “incredible contribution to the betterment of our country and people.”

“From South Australia’s first Aboriginal trainee nurse to one of Australia’s most regarded Aboriginal leaders of our time, Dr Lowitja O’Donoghue leaves a legacy of strong advocacy, passion and dedication,” he said.

In lieu of flowers, those wishing to honour Dr O’Donoghue are encouraged to make a donation to the Lowitja O’Donoghue Foundation which supports Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people to create change and strive for excellence.

Anyone wishing to attend the state funeral are required to register their attendance with the funeral live streamed for those unable to attend.

To register, visit: dpc.sa.gov.au