The Professor Lowitja O'Donoghue Collection includes books, reports and documents relating to Aboriginal culture, heritage, advocacy and rights, memorabilia from the Sydney 2000 Olympics, along with books, awards, correspondence and memorabilia including honorary doctorate gowns and hats.
| Access and explore the collection |
The Collection is housed at the University of South Australia City West Campus. Access is by appointment only.
Contact Ask the Library to make an appointment or for more information.
You can discover what is in the Collection through the Box List, or explore the Collection by browsing Collection Discovery or searching the Special Collections Catalogue.
| Biography |
Professor Lowitja (Lois) O'Donoghue is a member of the Yankunjatjara people of northwest South Australia. Throughout her life she has been
an advocate for Indigenous rights and has worked for improving the health and welfare of Indigenous Australians. In 1962 O'Donoghue took on a role with the State Government as an Aboriginal Liaison Officer and later became a Welfare Officer. In 1967 she moved into the Commonwealth Department of Aboriginal Affairs where she became the Director in 1975, making her the first Indigenous person to be in charge of an Australian government department.
In 1990 O'Donoghue was appointed as the inaugural chairperson of the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Commission (ATSIC). In 1992 she was the first Indigenous Australian to address the United Nations General Assembly during the launch of the United Nations International Year of Indigenous Peoples.
In 1976 she was the first Indigenous woman to be inducted into the Order of Australia. In 1984 she was awarded Australian of the Year in recognition of her work to improve Indigenous welfare. She was inducted into the Olympic Order in 2000. In 2005 she received a Papal Award, Dame of the Order of St Gregory the Great. O'Donoghue has received seven honorary doctorates and fellowships from various Australian educational institutions.
O'Donoghue is currently a patron of The Bob Hawke Prime Ministerial Centre and The Lowitja Institute, which is named in her honour.
Picture - Lowitja O'Donoghue with Prime Minister Bob Hawke, Clyde Holding and Merle Jackomos at the Lodge, July 1983, image courtesy of the National Archives of Australia. NAA: A1680, 8/7/83/18, from the Bob Hawke Collection RH24/2/F14/15
| Discovery more |
- Lowitja Institute
- Lowitja O'Donoghue Oration (Flinders University) and also the orations on YouTube
Resources in other collections
Biographical information
- Lowitja O'Donoghue in Wikipedia
- Lowitja O'Donoghue in The Australian Women's Register
- Lois O'Donoghue. Australian Biography 3 from NFSA Films
- Rintoul. S. (2020). Lowitja: the authorised biography of Lowitja O'Donoghue. Allen & Unwin.
Featuring Lowitja O'Donoghue
-
Portrait Story | Lowitja O'Donoghue by Robert Hannaford, National Portrait Gallery, 11 April 2016
- Lois O'Donoghue. Australian Biography 3 from NFSA Films, 1 June 2021
- Dr Lowtija O'Donoghue AC CBE DSG delivers the opening address - from the Lowitja Institute International Indigenous Health and Wellbeing Conference 2016, 8 November 2016
- The journey to recognition begins - Tanya Hosch and Lowtija O'Donoghue explain why it's time to rally for recognition of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders in the Constitution, 7 April 2014
More about Lowitja O'Donoghue
- Great Australian Speeches: Lowitja O'Donoghue at the National Congress of Australia's First People
- Lowitja O'Donoghue's life - Phillip Adams speaks with Stuart Rintoul on ABC's Late Night Live, 3 November 2020
- Leading lady: Lowitja's legacy - Stuart Rintoul at Adelaide Writers' Week 23 March 2021
- articles from ABC (Australia)
- articles from SBS Australia