Oodgeroo Noonuccal

Oodgeroo Noonuccal
(Kath Walker)
Oodgeroo Noonuccal in 1970
Born
Kathleen Jean Mary Ruska

(1920-11-03)3 November 1920
Died16 September 1993(1993-09-16) (aged 72)
Brisbane, Queensland, Commonwealth of Australia
Other namesKath Walker, Kathleen Ruska
EducationBookkeeping, typing, shorthand
OccupationsAustralian Army officer, writer, teacher, poet
Employer(s)Australian Women's Army Service, Noonuccal-Nughie Education Cultural Centre
Known forPoetry, acting, writing, Aboriginal rights activism
Political partyCommunist Party of Australia
Australian Labor Party
Australian Democrats
Board member ofFederal Council for the Advancement of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders (FCAATSI)
SpouseBruce Walker
ChildrenDenis Walker
Vivian Walker
Parent(s)Ted Ruska and Lucy Ruska
Notes
* Mary Gilmore Medal (1970)
* Jessie Litchfield Award (1975)
* International Acting Award
* Fellowship of Australian Writers' Award
* Member of the Order of the British Empire
* Honorary Doctorate (Queensland University of Technology)
* Honorary Doctorate (Macquarie University)
* Doctorate (Griffith University)

Oodgeroo Noonuccal (/ˈʊdɡər ˈnnəkəl/ UUD-gə-roo NOO-nə-kəl; born Kathleen Jean Mary Ruska; 3 November 1920 – 16 September 1993), earlier known as Kath Walker, was an Aboriginal Australian political activist, artist and educator, who campaigned for Aboriginal rights. Noonuccal was best known for her poetry, and was the first Aboriginal Australian to publish a book of verse.