Bonita Mabo Bonita Mabo i(A13723 works by) (birth name: Bonnie Nehow) (a.k.a. Neta; Ernestine Bonita Mabo)
Born: Established: Halifax, Macknade - Halifax - Lucinda area, Ingham area, Ingham - Cairns area, Queensland, ; Died: Ceased: 26 Nov 2018 Brisbane, Queensland,
Gender: Female
Heritage: Torres Strait Islander ; Aboriginal ; ni-Vanuatu
The material on this page is available to AustLit subscribers. If you are a subscriber or are from a subscribing organisation, please log in to gain full access. To explore options for subscribing to this unique teaching, research, and publishing resource for Australian culture and storytelling, please contact us or find out more.

BiographyHistory

Malanbarra woman, Bonita Mabo a political activist and traditional owner of Palm Island, Queensland, was the wife of noted Aboriginal land rights campaigner, Eddie Koiki Mabo. Bonita also has South Sea Islander ancestry with family ties in Vanuatu, and is a descendant of "Kanakas" initially removed to Australia to work as cutters on the Queensland cane fields. Bonita had met ^Eddie Koiki Mabo in 1958 in a shanty town on the edge of a sugar plantation, and they married at the Methodist Church in Ingham, North Queensland, the following year. Bonita always supported Eddie's fight for native title to be recognised on Murray Island, but since his death in 1992 has been a leading voice in support of the rights of the South Sea Islanders in Australia. (Source: ABC TV website)

Most Referenced Works

Notes

  • On 17 November 2018, James Cook University conferred upon Bonita Mabo an Honorary Doctorate of Letters in recognition of her outstanding contribution to social justice and human rights at a private ceremony held in Brisbane. 

Personal Awards

2013 Order of Australia — Officer of the Order of Australia (AO) For distinguished service to the Indigenous community and to human rights as an advocate for the Aboriginal, Torres Strait Islander and South Sea Islander peoples.
VIEW ALL AWARDS
Last amended 12 Dec 2018 09:26:03
BlackWords
Other mentions of "" in AustLit:
    X