Spoken, sung, recited, or recorded, Oodgeroo's voice was plural and diverse.
The place Oodgeroo comes from appears on Australian maps as Stradbroke Island. The small Island lies approximately 20 minutes off the coast by boat due East of Brisbane. The island is a place of natural beauty where whales and dolphin can be seen swimming in the sea and where natural lakes hold fresh water.
In September 1920, Oodgeroo was born on Stradbroke Island and was called Kathleen Jean Mary Ruska. Her father Ted was a member of the Noonuccal people and he taught Kathleen and her siblings the traditional ways. Although a bright student she had to leave school when old enough to work as a servant for white families. (Taylor, 1999 #145)
She grew up there and eventually settled to live in a place called Moongalba by 1971. The five acre of bush land was called Moongalba because it meant sitting down place. With a $5000 gift from Judith Wright, she set up a camp where Aboriginal and non Aboriginal children could come and learn about Aboriginal ways of life. In 20 years, 30,000 children came to Moongalba and learnt about bush tucker, heard and saw stories such as Stradbroke Dreamtime and experienced arts and crafts.
On 30th September 1993, a special event had been planned for Moongalba. It was intended to be a tribute to all black authors in Australia. Originally called simply the Minjerriba Tribute it changed in nature because Oodgeroo died suddenly on the 16th of September 1993. It now became a tribute to Oodgeroo and her work, the land and all other black authors. In 1994, a trust was established to carry on the work of Oodgeroo to achieve a just reconciliation between Aboriginal and non- Aboriginal people in Australia.
According to Oodgeroo: Knowledge is Power
Oodgeroo used to say knowledge is power - now go out and get some! And this was what she believed; her life became the proof of the power of Black Australia knowledge and insight. (Shoemaker 1995)
Many people called Kath Walker (Oodgeroo) a poet of the people. She pointed out in 1977
I felt poetry would be the break hrough for the Australian people because they were storytellers and song makers and I thought poetry would appeal to them more than anything else. It was more of a book of their voices I was trying to bring out, and I think I succeeded in doing this. (xii)
Whether spoken, sung recited or recorded Oodgeroo's voice was plural and diverse.
Oodgeroo an Independent Spokesperson and Artist
Sitting in their comfortable
Parliaments
All these men
Derive new ways,
To uphold ignorance,
To keep slavery alive
(Oodgeroo 1990)
It is controversially hypothesised by Mudrooroo that Oodgeroo did not see herself as a poet; rather he says that she sought to break down the barriers between polemical and other forms of writing. Even as an Indigenous woman she spoke from a pluralistic international and universal viewpoint.
Black tribe, yellow tribe, red, white and brown,
From where the sun jumps up to where the sun goes down,
Herrs and pukka-sahibs, demoiselles and squaws,
All one family so why make wars?
(Oodgeroo 1978)
What bubbles through her work is the highly politicised pride in heritage and gender of this inspirational educator. Her ability as an actress was in part responsible for her powerful, capturing and entertaining presence and impact in the classroom.
Oodgeroo was an inspirational Black activist who played a pivotal role in the Australian Federal arena especially in the final decade of her life. Her skills as a fine artist, and the politicism of her art were made more powerful when she combined it with her witty sense of humour.
After many years of writing and talking,Kath's dreams came true. Harold Holt, the new Prime Minister, called a referendum.On 27th May 1967 ninety percent of Australians voted yes.
Almost everyone wanted Aboriginals to be citizens. (Taylor 1999)
As a theatrical performer Oodgeroo was widely accomplished and she made a significant impact on Australia theatre and the film and media industries. Education was the keynote that underpinned Oodgeroo's life and she was multiply literate. She argued from oral, printed and drawn media and by broadcasting and painting her message. She was a performer who always asked a question and it was the posing many pointed and curly questions with her suggestions, recommendations and solutions that made her life remarkable.
Sources:
- Oodgeroo My People Oodgeroo. Brisbane Jacaranda Press.1978
- Shoemaker, A., Ed. Oodgeroo a Tribute. Australian Literary Studies. Brisbane, University of Qld press. 1995
- Taylor, G. Oodgeroo Noonuccal. Melbourne, Cambridge University Press. 1999
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