Pearl Mary (Gambanyi) Gibbs: A Voice That Couldn’t Be Silenced.

Pearl Mary Gibbs (1901–1983), known affectionately as Gambanyi, was one of the most influential Aboriginal activists of the 20th century. Born near Botany Bay, she grew up at a time when government controls restricted almost every aspect of Aboriginal lives — from where people could live and work, to who they could marry. Yet from an early age, Gibbs refused to accept silence or submission.

In the 1930s, Gibbs emerged as a powerful voice for justice. She became one of the few Aboriginal women active in the Aborigines Progressive Association (APA), campaigning alongside William Ferguson and Jack Patten. Her work helped build momentum for the historic 1938 Day of Mourning, one of the first organised national protests by Aboriginal people, which demanded full citizenship and equality.

What set Gibbs apart was her ability to use every platform available to her. In the 1940's she made history as one of the first Aboriginal women to broadcast on Australian radio, using the airwaves to challenge discrimination and speak directly to the public. She also campaigned tirelessly for Aboriginal domestic workers, fighting for fair pay and humane conditions at a time when many young women were forced into exploitative labour.

Later in life, Gibbs became a founding member of the Aboriginal-Australian Fellowship, one of the first organisations to bring together Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal people in the struggle for rights. She never stopped pushing for equality, dignity, and recognition — her activism laying the groundwork for future generations.

Pearl Mary Gibbs passed away in 1983, but her legacy is profound. She was a trailblazer who proved that Aboriginal women could — and would — take the microphone, lead the marches, and fight for a just future. Today, she is remembered not only as an activist, but as a voice that carried the strength and determination of her people into the national conversation.