Here is the biography of Oodgeroo of the Noonuccal:
Oodgeroo of the Noonuccal, born Kathleen Jean Mary Ruska, was a renowned Australian poet, writer, and Aboriginal rights activist. Born on North Stradbroke Island in South-East Queensland, she was one of seven children of Edward (Ted) Ruska and his wife Lucy (née McCulloch). Her father, a Noonuccal man, was employed by the Queensland government and fought for better conditions for Aboriginal workers, leaving a strong impression on his daughter.
Oodgeroo attended Dunwich State School until the age of 13, when she left to work as a domestic servant in Brisbane. She later enlisted in the Australian Women's Army Service (AWAS) during World War II, earning promotion to corporal and working in switchboard operations and the AWAS pay office.
In 1942, she married Bruce Raymond Walker, and they had two sons, Denis and Vivian. However, the couple separated, and Oodgeroo was left to raise their sons on her own. She worked as a domestic servant and later as a secretary and bookkeeper.
In the 1950s, Oodgeroo became interested in writing poetry and joined the Brisbane arm of the Realist Writer's Group. Her poetry collection, We Are Going, was published in 1964 and became a commercial success, making her the best-selling Australian poet since C. J. Dennis.
Oodgeroo's poetry was characterized by its plain-speaking style and strong element of protest, reflecting her experiences as an Aboriginal woman and her commitment to social justice and Aboriginal rights. She continued to write and publish poetry throughout her life, as well as books of Aboriginal legends for young readers.
In the 1960s, Oodgeroo became increasingly involved in political activism, working with organizations such as the Queensland Council for the Advancement of Aborigines and Torres Strait Islanders (QCAATSI) and the Federal Council for the Advancement of Aborigines and Torres Strait Islanders (FCAATSI). She was a key figure in the agitation that led to voting rights and Australian citizenship for Aborigines.
In the 1970s, Oodgeroo established the Noonuccal-Nughie Education and Cultural Centre on North Stradbroke Island, which became an important venue for visiting Aboriginal students from around the country. She also traveled widely, going on lecture tours and visiting colleges in the United States.
In 1988, Oodgeroo returned the MBE she had been awarded in 1970 as a protest against continuing Aboriginal disadvantage during the Bicentennial Celebration of White Australia. She adopted the Noonuccal tribal name Oodgeroo, meaning "paperbark," and continued to be recognized for her literary, educational, and political achievements.
Oodgeroo died on September 16, 1993, at her home on Stradbroke Island, leaving behind a legacy of pioneering poetry and activism that continues to inspire and influence Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal Australians alike.
