women's past, present, future

Nellie Camfoo's days of riding horses may be over, but in her mind, she still calls herself "a cattle girl".

A 1837 portrait of Wortabowigee, a woman from Lorernulraytitteter (Port Dalrymple), lutruwita; she is shown wearing five loops of delicate seashell strands — the type of jewelry the island is known for to this day.

Full necklace by Aunty Dulcie Greeno

Mum Shirl was one of the founding members of the Aboriginal Legal Service, the Aboriginal Medical Service, the Aboriginal Tent Embassy, the Aboriginal Children’s Service and the Aboriginal Housing Company. She also spent considerable time and money finding homes for children whose parents could not look after them and helping displaced children to find their parents again. The children with nowhere to go often ended up living with her. By the early 1990s, she had raised over 60 children.

Manuwuri Forester is a Traditional Owner of the Great Barrier Reef and is passionate about creating a succession path for Indigenous women and girls to have an impact on the Reef. "Everyone says Country talks to you, Country heals you, Country makes you a stronger person. I believe that because it happened to me,” Manuwuri says.

Yvonne Margarula, Senior Traditional Owner and leader of the Mirarr people

IndigiLez

She has been using the revived Kaurna language to bring back traditional birth and death ceremonies as well. "I see myself as a child of the Universe committed to humanity. I am willing to venture into neighbouring camps and allow others’ to hold dear that which is dear to them."