Who was Oodgeroo Noonuccal?
Q: Who was Oodgeroo Noonuccal?
A: Oodgeroo Noonuccal was an Australian poet, political activist, artist and teacher. She was best known for her poetry, and was the first Aboriginal Australian to publish a book of verse.
Q: What is the meaning of the name "Oodgeroo"?
A: The name "Oodgeroo" refers to the paperbark tree, which is a traditional Quandamooka name that she adopted for herself in 1988.
Q: What changes did Oodgeroo campaign for?
A: Oodgeroo campaigned strongly for Aboriginal rights and was one of the main people behind the campaign for changes to the Australian constitution in 1967. These changes gave Aboriginal people full citizenship. She also campaigned for Prime Minister Robert Menzies and his successor Harold Holt.
Q: What type of writing style did Oodgeroo use?
A: Oodgeroo described her own writing style as "sloganistic". She wanted to show how proud she was of being an Aboriginal and used her writing to make people support equality and Aboriginal rights.
Q: What awards did Oodgeroo win?
A: Ooodergo won several literary awards including the Mary Gilmore Medal (1970), Jessie Litchfield Award (1975) and Fellowship of Australian Writers' Award.
Q: What educational centre did she open?
A: In 1972, she opened an educational centre in her hometown of Moongalba on North Stradbroke Island which taught children about nature and Aboriginal culture.
Q: What honour did she receive from Britain's monarchy? A:She was made a member of Order of British Empire in 1970 but returned it in 1987 to protest Australia's bicentenary celebrations and make a political statement about social inequality in Australia
