Marking the first anniversary of her death, the life and legacy of Dr Lowitja O’Donoghue will be honoured with an exhibition at Kerry Packer Civic Gallery.
Described by her associates and colleagues as “the greatest Aboriginal leader of the modern era”, Dr Lowitja O’Donoghue AC CBE DSG was dedicated to transforming the rights, education, health and wellbeing of her people.
A Yankunytjatjara woman from the state’s far north, O’Donoghue was removed from her mother at the age of two.
She worked as a nurse before forging a career in Indigenous activism, earning a series of accolades including the title of 1984 Australian of the Year and became the first Aboriginal person to address the United Nations General Assembly.
Today marks the first anniversary of her death at 91, an occasion commemorated with the announcement of an inaugural exhibition titled “LOWITJA – A Life of Leadership and Legacy’”.
O’Donoghue worked as a nurse before forging a career in Indigenous activism. Image: Lowitja O’Donoghue Collection
O’Donoghue was the first Aboriginal person to address the United Nations General Assembly. Image: Lowitja O’Donoghue Collection
Presented by The Bob Hawke Prime Ministerial Centre in partnership with the Lowitja O’Donoghue Foundation and Lowitja Institute, the exhibition will portray her “most iconic, triumphant, and heartbreaking moments”, featuring O’Donoghue’s speeches, awards and never-seen-before letters and photographs.
Head of the Lowitja O’Donoghue Foundation and Dr O’Donoghue’s niece Deb Edwards hopes the collection is drawn upon to educate present and future generations with bold truth-telling.
“Dr O’Donoghue was a trailblazing Aboriginal woman who was told she would never amount to anything,” she said.
“Throughout an exceedingly difficult early life, she evolved into a person with incredible internal strength, whose main aim was to always fight for justice and a better future for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people.
“My Aunt entrusted me to carry forward her legacy and this exhibition is the perfect occasion to remember and honour her a year after her passing, whilst also providing an educational opportunity for school groups, Aboriginal community and professional groups, corporate and community organisations and the broader general public to learn more about an extraordinary South Australian Aboriginal woman whose notable achievements were recognised globally.”
The “LOWITJA – A Life of Leadership and Legacy” exhibition will feature speeches, awards and never-seen-before letters and photographs. Images: Lowitja O’Donoghue Collection
The exhibition will be hosted at the Kerry Packer Civic Gallery in The Bob Hawke Prime Ministerial Centre, fostering an existing connection to the centre.
Executive Director of The Bob Hawke Prime Ministerial Centre Jacinta Thompson said it is an honour to host this exhibition.
“As a member of the Advisory Committee of the Aboriginal Task Force, she played a key role in ensuring that one of the University’s core functions would be to provide education programs that meet the needs of Aboriginal people,” Thompson said.
“Through her extraordinary legacy, Dr O’Donoghue has inspired generations, not only within Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities but across the wider Australian community – fostering greater understanding, respect, and reconciliation.”
The exhibition launches on Wednesday June 4, 2025 and runs until Friday, July 25, 2025.
For more event information, visit The Bob Hawke Prime Ministerial Centre website.