Elders presented with honorary doctorates for devotion to Indigenous development

TWO PROMINENT  Indigenous elders, Lilla Watson and Mary Graham – highly regarded as determined and effective activists, feminists, educators and academics – have been awarded QUT’s highest honorary award: the title of Doctor of the University,

“Both Lilla Watson and Mary Graham have contributed in a quite remarkable way to the development of the community,” QUT vice-chancellor Peter Coaldrake said of the honours which recognised both the womens’ scholarship and example to others.

“Their own life stories are inspirational and both are truly outstanding role models, demonstrating tireless commitment to advancing the cause of Australia’s Indigenous community.”

Dr Watson has been an activist for human rights since the 1970s when she participated in the anti-apartheid Springbok protests and the first Aboriginal delegation to China. She was later instrumental in the development of the renowned LinkUp agency, tasked with the responsibility of reuniting Stolen Generation Children, while as an educator with The University of Queensland she developed and taught subjects such as Aboriginal Perspectives.
Since retiring as a lecturer in the 1990s, Dr Watson has become a successful visual artist and her work can be seen at Brisbane’s Roma Street Parklands, the Brisbane Magistrates Courts, and the Queensland State Library.

Dr Watson has been involved in a number of media organisations as well as the Murri School, the National Congress of Australia’s First Peoples, and The BlackCard training company. She has also been a member of the Parole Board, and the boards of the Queensland Art Gallery, the State Library, and the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Committee of QUT.
Elder, philosopher, intellectual, academic and public figure, Mary Graham has influenced many Indigenous and non-Indigenous staff and students of QUT as well as the wider community.

She has lectured and tutored on subjects in Aboriginal history, politics and comparative philosophy, as well as conducted numerous workshops, published journal articles, and written discussion papers and guidelines for governments, corporations and international bodies.

Dr Graham was the administrator for the Aboriginal and Islander Child Care Agency; ATSIC regional councillor for South East Queensland; a Corrective Services commissioner; a native title researcher; and a foundation member of the National Council for Aboriginal Reconciliation.

Currently a member of the Ethics Committee of the National Congress of Australia’s First Peoples, her other roles include researcher with the Kummara organisation; facilitator at The BlackCard training company; and member of the Ethics Committee of the Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation.

www.qut.edu.au

 

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Lilla Watson and Mary Graham have been honoured with doctorates from the Queensland University of Technology in recognition of their scholarship and service to a vast number of community causes.