Mabo awarded for her indigenous work

BONITA Mabo has been awarded an Honorary Doctor of Letters from James Cook University in recognition of her outstanding contribution to the community.

Dr Mabo is known for her advocacy work for indigenous Australians. She co- founded Australia’s first indigenous community school, the Black Community School in Townsville, where she worked as a teacher’s aide and oversaw the day- to- day operations including providing cultural training.

She was seen as a stabilising influence at the school at a time when it was considered unacceptable to have discrete curriculums and teaching policies for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children.

Dr Mabo worked alongside her late husband Edward “Koiki” Mabo during his long fight for indigenous land rights and spent 10 years on the Central Queensland Land Council.

She is also the honorary patron of the Australian South Sea Islanders – Port Jackson, the interim Australian South Sea Islanders national body.

JCU Chancellor Bill Tweddell said Dr Mabo was a deserving recipient of the award.

“Dr Mabo has been recognised for her 45 years of service to the community and her advocacy for indigenous Australians and Australian South Sea Islanders,” he said.

The award was presented at a private ceremony at the weekend.

“It was wonderful to have so many members of the Mabo family present for the ceremony, and to witness their pride in Bonita’s achievement,” Mr Tweddell said.