Cathy Culbong was born in the bush on the Narrogin Reserve, as at this time Aboriginal people were not allowed to attend hospitals. She is the fifth child out of seven children and the sister of Margaret Culbong (q.v.) and Lenny Culbong. Her dad Lindsay Culbong was born in Pemberton and her mum was Esther Parfitt born in Pingelly; they were both born around 1918. Cathy along with the other children on the reserve were brought up to learn how to survive on bush tucker.
At the age of eleven Cathy was forced into Sister Kate's Home until the age of sixteen. She graduated from the Marr Mooditj Aboriginal College as an Aboriginal Community Health Worker and worked in the Pilbara for a number of years. Cathy has been employed at the Aboriginal Medical Service in Geraldton playing an important role as a Social and Emotional Well-Being Officer to Aboriginal people belonging to the Stolen Generation.
