Blak History Month 🎙Oodgeroo Noonuccal (1920–1993): Poet, Activist, Educator, Trailblazer.

Born Kathleen Jean Mary Ruska at Bulimba, Brisbane in 1920, her home was on North Stradbroke Island (Minjerribah). Oodgeroo Noonuccal was a proud Quandamooka woman who used the power of words to shake the foundations of colonial silence and demand justice for her people. In a nation that had long ignored Aboriginal voices, she became one of the first to break through — unapologetically, poetically, and politically.

In 1964, she made history as the first Aboriginal person to publish a book of poetry, We Are Going. It was a searing, elegant collection that gave voice to the pain of dispossession, the strength of resistance, and the enduring presence of Aboriginal culture. Her writing was accessible, direct, and deeply grounded in her lived experience — a literary force that resonated with both Black and white Australia.

But Oodgeroo was never content to be only a poet. She was a fierce activist, playing a vital role in the campaign for the 1967 Referendum, and was deeply involved with the Federal Council for the Advancement of Aborigines and Torres Strait Islanders (FCAATSI). She travelled widely, gave speeches, and lobbied tirelessly for Aboriginal rights, education, and recognition.

In 1988, in protest against the Australian Bicentenary and what it symbolised, she returned her Member of the British Empire (MBE) honour and reclaimed her traditional name — Oodgeroo of the Noonuccal people. It was a powerful act of sovereignty and resistance.

Oodgeroo Noonuccal’s legacy is profound. As a poet, she gave Australia some of its most enduring political verse. As an educator, she opened doors for young Aboriginal people to reconnect with culture and learning. And as a leader, she inspired generations to stand proud, speak loud, and never forget who they are.

She once wrote, “Let no one say the past is dead. The past is all about us and within.”