Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people are advised that the following post contains images of deceased persons.
Today, in a state funeral held in Townsville, we bid farewell to a beloved member of the community (not only our local community, but the wider community throughout Queensland): Dr Ernestine ‘Bonita’ Mabo AO.
Dr Mabo was only recently awarded an Honorary Doctor of Letters, in recognition of the decades of service she has given the Aboriginal Australian, Torres Strait Islander and Pacific Islander communities in and around the Townsville and North Queensland regions.
Dr Mabo co-founded the Black Community School, Australia's first Indigenous community school, in Townsville - alongside her husband, Eddie Koiki Mabo. She also worked with Eddie Mabo on the Indigenous Land Rights court case, helping to shape the current political landscape of Australia.
For more than 45 years, Dr Mabo has been a vocal advocate for the Indigenous Australian and Pacific Islander communities, and she has rightfully earned a position of great respect in the region.
Regarding her recent acceptance of the Honorary Doctorate of Letters, JCU Chancellor Bill Tweddell said, “her acceptance of this award is an honour to the university.”
We here in the JCU Library have been greatly honoured to be associated with the Mabo family since the naming of the Eddie Koiki Mabo Library in May 2008, where Bonita placed the first hand print on the work that is still regularly displayed in the Eddie Koiki Mabo Library.
Dr Mabo was a greatly loved and highly respected member of our community, and we will miss her. Our thoughts go to her family and friends.
Today, in a state funeral held in Townsville, we bid farewell to a beloved member of the community (not only our local community, but the wider community throughout Queensland): Dr Ernestine ‘Bonita’ Mabo AO.
Dr Mabo was only recently awarded an Honorary Doctor of Letters, in recognition of the decades of service she has given the Aboriginal Australian, Torres Strait Islander and Pacific Islander communities in and around the Townsville and North Queensland regions.
Dr Mabo co-founded the Black Community School, Australia's first Indigenous community school, in Townsville - alongside her husband, Eddie Koiki Mabo. She also worked with Eddie Mabo on the Indigenous Land Rights court case, helping to shape the current political landscape of Australia.
For more than 45 years, Dr Mabo has been a vocal advocate for the Indigenous Australian and Pacific Islander communities, and she has rightfully earned a position of great respect in the region.Regarding her recent acceptance of the Honorary Doctorate of Letters, JCU Chancellor Bill Tweddell said, “her acceptance of this award is an honour to the university.”
We here in the JCU Library have been greatly honoured to be associated with the Mabo family since the naming of the Eddie Koiki Mabo Library in May 2008, where Bonita placed the first hand print on the work that is still regularly displayed in the Eddie Koiki Mabo Library.
Dr Mabo was a greatly loved and highly respected member of our community, and we will miss her. Our thoughts go to her family and friends.
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