A state funeral to honour the life of Dr Lowitja O’Donoghue AC CBE DSG, a proud Yankunytjatjara woman and highly respected Aboriginal leader, was held on Friday, 8 March 2024 at St Peter’s Cathedral, Kaurna Country, North Adelaide.
The service honoured Yankunytjatjara woman Dr O’Donoghue’s lifelong work and advocacy to improve the rights, health, and wellbeing of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples.
In lieu of flowers, the family kindly requested consideration for people and organisations wishing to honour Dr O’Donoghue, to donate to the Lowitja O’Donoghue Foundation.
Watch the livestream recording
If you were unable to attend, the state funeral livestream recording is available to view for free.
About Dr Lowitja O’Donoghue AC CBE DSG
A proud Yankunytjatjara woman, Dr O’Donoghue was a fearless and passionate advocate for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples – and has been central to some of the country’s most historic moments in Indigenous Affairs.
As a young adult, Dr O’Donoghue fought against racial discrimination to become South Australia’s first Aboriginal trainee nurse at the Royal Adelaide Hospital, earning triple certificate qualifications.
In the early 1970’s, Dr O’Donoghue entered the public service and was soon offered a role as regional director of an Australian federal department. Dr O’Donoghue was the first woman appointed to such a position and held responsibility for the local implementation of national Aboriginal welfare policy.
In 1990, Dr O’Donoghue was appointed the inaugural Chairperson of the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Commission (ATSIC) and played a key role in drafting the Native Title legislation that arose from the High Court’s historic Mabo decision.
Dr O’Donoghue has been awarded numerous distinguished honours in recognition of her contribution to advancing Aboriginal rights. Some of her achievements include in 1977 becoming the first Aboriginal woman to be made a member of the Order of Australia, being awarded Australian of the Year in 1984 and in 1998 being named an Australian National Living Treasure.
Dr O’Donoghue was also invested as a Commander of the Order of the British Empire in 1983, a Companion of the Order of Australia in 1999, and in 2006 was invested as Dame of the Order of St Gregory the Great, a Papal award.
Dr O’Donoghue also received an extraordinary list of honorary doctorates from Universities around Australia.
Dr Lowitja O’Donoghue AC CBE DSG passed away peacefully, aged 91, on 4 February 2024 on Kaurna Country in Adelaide, South Australia, with her immediate family by her side.
The family has granted permission for use of image. Photo by Leanne King.