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Oodgeroo Noonuccal Papers
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Papers relating to overseas trips

Kath Walker travelled overseas on several occasions to attend conferences, as an official Australian delegate for committees, on speaking tours, lecturing and as a poet-in-residence. Included in this series are her files from her trips to New Zealand (1972), Malaysia (1974), Nigeria (in 1974 and 1977), North America (1978-1979) and Fiji (1980).

Papers relating to Moongalba and North Stradbroke Island

The papers in this series relate to Kath Walker's involvement in North Stradbroke Island issues in general, and also more specifically to Moongalba on North Stradbroke Island.

Stradbroke island was a large sand island that formed in Moreton Bay, off the coast of Brisbane, Queensland, that split into two islands in the late 19th century: North Stradbroke Island and South Stradbroke Island. The Quandamooka people are the traditional custodians of North Stradbroke Island. North Stradbroke Island, also known as Straddie or Minjerribah, is where Kath Walker spent much of her life. It has been home for many years to the Noonuccal (or Nunukul), Nughi and Goenpul people. The papers relating to North Stradbroke Island reflect Kath's involvement in issues such as opposition to sand-mining on the island, and opposition to a proposed bridge connecting North Stradbroke Island with the mainland.

Moongalba was established by Kath Walker as a cultural education centre in 1971. It was visited extensively by school children, as well as teachers, students, academics, writers and others. Kath Walker was initially granted a twenty-five year lease to the land by the Redland Shire Council; this was later extended to her lifetime. However, she was never granted legal title to the land, despite the support of many influential people. In 1979 Kath Walker prepared a submission to the federal Department of Aboriginal Affairs, requesting financial assistance and support in obtaining title to the land. Her application was never answered.

Newspaper cuttings

This series has newspaper cuttings relating to Dunwich, Kath Walker, and Australian Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples.

Correspondence

This series contains a large amount of incoming correspondence. The correspondence covers the broad range of Oodgeroo Noonuccal's activities and interests. It covers her activities as a writer and guest speaker. There is correspondence from Aboriginal organisations, government departments, school students, teachers, universities and letters of appreciation for her work. The bulk of the correspondence is in the 1970s and 1980s. Correspondence is also scattered in various files throughout the collection. The correspondence is mostly incoming letters with only a small number of outgoing letters.

Manuscripts

This series consists of both published and unpublished works by Oodgeroo Noonuccal and contains poetry, short stories, play scripts, speeches and reports.

Notebook containing prose, speech and notes

This notebook includes: poem beginning with 'Was it dream....'; 'Dawn' (poem); 'Can you?' (poem); 'Blackmans club' (poem); 'No place to go' (poem); 'Dawn' (poem); 'Report to Aboriginal Aged housing' on her visit to Cunnamulla; 'Speech to Seminar on Aboriginal Rights, 7 and 8 May 1971, Perth, Western Australia'; 'What the sea gulls told me' (short story); survey results of Aboriginal children; draft letter to Consolidated Rutile Corporation regarding establishing an Art Gallery, Museum and park at Moongalba'; 'Old age' (poem); 'Occupational therapy' (short story); list with visitor signatures dated 18 May 1978; and random notes throughout notebook.

Moongalba diary from 1 Jun 1972 to 1976

This Chelsea book-keeping book has a substantial number of journal entries by Kath Walker outlining activities in setting up Moongalba by her and her helpers. The first one dates from 1 June 1972. It begins: 'Bill Mewett & I started clearing the land. Much prickly pear to dig out and destroy. Wet weather preventing our working. Put in three hours'. Some entries have newspaper cuttings included. When Kath left for her New Zealand tour in September 1972, Bill Mewett took over the journal entries. Entries on activities are made by others. Kath's entries become more of a diary as time progresses with personal activities, her health, general observations (like the weather), rather than just what work was done around Moongalba. By the beginning of 1976 most entries are from visitors to Moongalba.

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