Mural painted by well known artist Adnate depicts the late Aunty Geraldine Briggs and the late Aunty Elizabeth Morgan.
The Aboriginal Street Art Project has been named by locals as ‘Dana Djirrungana Dunguludja Yenbena-l’ which means ‘Proud, Strong, Aboriginal People’ in Yorta Yorta language. This project is aimed at celebrating and recognising the local Aboriginal history.
Aunty Geraldine Briggs is a highly respected Aboriginal Elder amongst local, state and national Indigenous communities. She put all of her energies into supporting and raising her eight children and extended family members, whilst campaigning for equal rights, particularly concerning citizenship.
She was a founding member and past president of the National Council of Aboriginal and Islander Women. Geraldine was the state secretary and a member of the Federal Council of Aboriginal and Torres Strait islanders who campaigned for the 1967 constitutional referendum relating to Aborigines and the vote. Geraldine was buoyed up by the hope of a better future for Aboriginal Australians when more than 90 per cent voted in favour of the 1967 constitutional amendments. Aunty Geraldine received the Order of Australia and was placed on the inaugural Victorian Women’s Honour Roll in the year of the Federation. Geraldine is listed on the inaugural Victorian Aboriginal honour roll due to her achievements and at 82 years of age she won the Aboriginal of the Year Award.
Aunty Elizabeth Morgan was born at Cummeragunja and witnessed the walk off at a young age. Elizabeth worked tirelessly in improving the lives of her Aboriginal People especially women and children. During her time as Director of the Aborigines Advancement League she co-founded the Aboriginal Housing Cooperative in 1974, the Victorian Aboriginal Child Care Agency and many other vital services such as Australia’s first Aboriginal refuge which would later be named in her honour as Elizabeth Morgan House. In her later years she fought for the recognition of the Yorta Yorta Nation of which her legacy stands today.
Elizabeth had many achievements and received an inaugural NAIDOC Lifetime Achievement Award in 2006 after being inducted into the Victorian Women’s Honour Roll in 2001. In 2017 she was inducted into the Victorian Aboriginal Honour Roll.
Can be viewed 24 hours.
