Cirrus@Austlit

'Queenie McKenzie grew up on a cattle station, staying away from the grasps of the authorities, who would take Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander kids like her from their families at will.

'As she grew up, she solved problems everywhere she saw them.  From building schools and teaching kids in her community, to saving a man’s life by repairing his scalp stitch by stitch.

'But deep down, she wanted to tell the stories of her Country. To preserve their importance.

'She started painting in her 70s – becoming the first woman in her community to do so – and realised the power of telling stories through art. And once she started, she never stopped.'  (Production summary)

'Marion Mahony Griffin grew up in the best kind of playground – nature. Her home was a log cabin in the woods, where she was able to run wild, climb trees, and spend time entertaining guests.

'But when a fire caused that home to burn down, Marion watched and tried not to feel sorry for herself. She dreamed that one day, she could build a place like that of her own, with lots of nature, and a community.

'So, she became one of the first women in the world to graduate with an architecture degree.

'She drew and she planned, she planned and she drew. And when the Australian Government launched an international competition to design a new capital city - Canberra – Marion jumped at the chance. She sailed her architectural drawings across the sea, just in time.  Marion’s drawings and designs won, and she was able to make her dream a reality.'  (Production summary)

'Yukultji Napangati grew up with no contact with the outside world. Just her and her family, living on a shimmery salt lake. She learned how to live on Country, how to find food, water, and shelter. She was a particularly great hunter.  

'When she turned 14, everything changed. She saw her first other humans, and saw a car for the first time.  She had been brought to live with other people from her mob, and here she found out she was really good at something else too, painting. It used to be men’s only business, but by the time Yukultji picked up her first paintbrush, it was something women in her community would do too.

'Her stroke was unique. It was special. It made her work shimmer just like the salt lake she grew up on. And her paintings now hang on the walls of some of the most famous people in the world.' (Production summary) 

'As a child, Mirka Mora narrowly escaped being sent to a death camp just for being Jewish. The faces of the people she left behind would haunt her forever.  

'Mirka migrated to Australia seeking freedom. She was a survivor, and despite the terrible things she had seen, she was determined to celebrate life. She made sure everyone around her was celebrating too.  

'She opened restaurants and cafes, attracting famous poets and artists from around the world. Her enchanting personality was magnetic, and she became one of the city’s most prolific and beloved cultural icons.  

'Mirka created art on every surface imaginable. She made mosaics and soft dolls, painted massive murals, and embroidered beautiful things.  Her art was just like her – full of joy, hope, and magic.'  (Production summary)  

'Nora Heysen wasn’t the only talented artist in the family. As a young woman, her painting was extraordinary, but she could never get out from the shadow of her dad. She took her talents to London to carve her own identity, but male teachers and critics told her that her work wasn’t very good.

'It was.

'Back in Australia, Nora was the first woman to win Australia’s biggest portrait prize, the Archibald.  She was also the first woman to be sent to war as a war artist.  She documented many women at war, and in the last years of her life, was finally recognized as one of the finest portrait painters Australia has ever seen.'  (Production summary)

'When Kath Ruska's dad told her white people would never recognise Aboriginal culture, she hoped he was wrong. She became a famous poet, using her pen as a weapon to fight for Indigenous rights.

'Her words took her all the way to Parliament House, where she demanded the Prime Minister do more to improve the lives of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders.

'But she still had an English name, so she changed it to Aboriginal language -Oodgeroo, meaning paper bark, and Noonuccal, the name of her tribe.

'Oodgeroo moved back to her island home — Minjerribah — and figured out the best way to make sure her culture was always remembered: she taught it to children, black and white.' (Production summary)

'Even as a young girl, Celeste Barber always had a funny story that would make everyone laugh out loud.

'Celeste dreamed of starring in a TV comedy like Friends, but she went on to play a paramedic in a popular medical drama. And when that series flatlined, she used Instagram to take the world by storm, one funny photo at a time.

'During the devastating bushfires of 2019-20, Celeste knew she couldn't grab a hose and put out the fires herself. So, she launched a fundraising appeal and raised $50 million dollars for the New South Wales RFS Brigades Donation Fund.

'Celeste Barber was way more than an Instagram star, she was a hero. And she had the last laugh.'  (Production summary)
 

'When Madeline Stuart was 17, her mum took her to a fashion parade where most of the models seemed to fit a tall, thin, predictable box.

'Maddy was born with Down Syndrome, a condition that means she has an extra chromosome. And while she didn't look like the models she saw in magazines, fashionistas thought Maddy was beautiful.

'They invited her onto the catwalks of New York, London, Paris — every corner of the globe.

'Maddy always knew she could conquer the world — and now she's showing everyone else that they can too.'  (Production summary)

'Nyadol Nyuon's family is from South Sudan, but she was born in a refugee camp.

'Every night she prayed that her family could move to Australia. And, when she was 18, her prayers were answered.

'In Australia, Nyadol wanted to be a lawyer, but her teachers didn't think she had the ability.

'Nyadol had some surprises in store for those doubters.

'She did become a lawyer and, when the media unfairly targeted African youths in their reports, she found her voice and fought to give refugees a voice too.'  (Production summary)

'Faith Thomas grew up throwing rocks at galahs. She'd only been playing proper cricket for a couple of weeks before she was picked to represent South Australia.

'Her phenomenal stats made headlines. So, it was no great surprise when Faith got called up to represent Australia against England in Brisbane. When she stepped onto the Gabba cricket ground, she became the first Aboriginal person to play on any Australian team… not just cricket.

'But cricket was just a game to Faith. So, not long after that test, she left sport behind to dedicate herself to saving lives as a nurse.'  (Production summary)

'Caroline Buchanan rode in her first big international BMX race when she was nine, waving to the crowd, soaring down hills, gliding through the air.

'It was a feeling too good to give up. Even when her brother broke his neck and two arms. Even when she missed out on medals at the London and Rio Olympics. And even when she ended up in hospital, all of it was worth it.

'Caroline Buchanan endured to become a world champion in both BMX and mountain biking. And she's not done yet.'  (Production summary)

'Andrea Boyd grew up loving the science fiction series Star Trek. And when she wasn't at school, conducting science experiments or staring at the TV, she was staring at the sky.

'But when the world's best engineers built the International Space Station, Andrea realised science fact was better than science fiction. She worked hard to become their only Aussie flight controller, talking to the astronauts who lived in the space station as it orbited Earth.

'But Andrea didn't stop there — she wanted to bring space exploration to Australia. She convinced the country's leading academics, businesspeople, and the government to open the Australian Space Agency.'  (Production summary)

'Jean Robertson learnt to drive almost as soon as her feet could touch the pedals — and then she taught her bestie Kathleen Howell to do the same.

'The two friends mastered automobiles at a time that you weren't likely to see a woman behind the wheel. Once they'd nailed that, they crossed the whole of Australia by car and smashed land speed records.'  (Production summary)

'Asthma stopped Adelaide Miethke from playing outside with other kids.

'She felt alone and trapped. So when she grew up and became a teacher, she had an idea. Adelaide realised that outback kids were isolated just like she was.

'She invented the School of the Air to teach kids from the bush using a two-way radio! Then she fought boldly for female teachers to get the same pay as male teachers.' (Production summary) 

'Have you ever stood on a 10m diving board and peered down? It's a long way.

'Rhiannan Iffland, world champion cliff diver, leaps off at least double that! That's taller than a telephone pole and as big as a Brachiosaurus. But it's not easy. She had to conquer her fears to become the best.' (Production summary)

'Dorothea loved to write. So much, that she would write stories and poems in her own secret code.

'She had a passion for the beauty of the Australian landscape, and her poetry was so good that people all over the world read it. Dorothea wrote one of Australia's most famous poems — My Country.' (Production summary)

'You know those girls who are great at sport? That was Nova.

'She practised hockey endlessly in her backyard until one day she became the first Indigenous woman to win an Olympic gold medal but she wasn't finished.

'She went on to win a gold medal in sprinting and then took her courage and energy into politics, becoming Australia's first Indigenous woman to be elected to Federal Parliament.' (Production summary) 

'When a woman has a baby, sometimes things can go wrong. When you are in a poor country, those things often don't get fixed.

'Dr Catherine Hamlin saw these women needed help and decided to do something about it. She devoted her life to working in the poorest villages in Ethiopia saving thousands of women's lives. She did it all with kindness and determination.' (Production summary)

'Whack! Ash Barty was four years old when she hit a powerful shot at the head of her tennis coach. He said she wasn’t old enough to play but he saw how determined she was.

'Since then, she’s whacked millions of tennis balls and travelled away from home for months at a time to practice and play. Until, finally, she became the number one female tennis player in the whole world.'  (Production summary)

'Bindi was only eight-years-old when she said goodbye to her hero, her dad — Steve Irwin. She did it in front of millions of people all over the world who were watching his funeral. Even though it was the saddest time of her life, Bindi decided that she would carry on her dad's dream. To "save one, save the species" and help all the animals of the world.

'Narrated by Australia’s first female Governor-General, Dame Quentin Bryce.'

Source: ABC.