Oodgeroo - an Inspiration for Members of the Darug Community

Abstract

A message stick sent to Oodgeroo of the Noonuccal from our brother Ken Upton of the Darug tribe, inviting her to visit Darug lands brought about our first meeting with Oodgeroo. From then on Oodgeroo became our friend and our sister.

Without Oodgeroo's continual encouragement we would never have had the courage to achieve what we have today. She taught us patience and a new-found pride in ourselves and our people.

Her favourite phrase "Don't Hate — Educate" will be a motto which we will try very hard to live by out of respect for our sister. Oodgeroo took the Darug people under her wing and taught us skills that had been lost to our people. She was a person in high demand from people from all walks of life, but always she found time for the Darug.