This article is more than 1 year old

This article is more than 1 year old

Tributes are flowing for the “matriarch of reconciliation”, Bonita Mabo, an activist and reconciliation advocate in her own right who was the wife of the land rights champion Eddie “Koiki” Mabo. She has died in Townsville, surrounded by her family, at the age of 75.

The Aboriginal social justice commissioner, June Oscar, described Mabo as “gentle, stoic and loving. I will always remember her as the mother of native title. Her legacy lives on in our continuing fight for land and sea rights.”



Australia’s South Sea Islander community said: “Aunty Bonita’s contribution to social justice and human rights for First Nations people and the Australian South Sea Islander recognition was monumental and relentless.

Linda Burney MP (@LindaBurneyMP) Vale Bonita Mabo, an activist for social justice and human rights in her own right. One of the great First Nations Women of our time. Fighting 'til the very end for the great truth of this nation. My thoughts and love go out to the Mabo family.

“A formidable ‘woman Tanna’, Aunty Bonita will be greatly missed as Australia has lost one of the greatest matriarchs of all time. Because of her, we can.”

Reconciliation Australia’s chief executive, Karen Mundine, said Mabo had “made a powerful contribution to reconciliation in Australia – both in supporting her husband’s work and through her individual efforts as an educator and advocate”.

“Aunty Bonita’s work shed light on the horrendous treatment of South Sea Islander Australians, which is an aspect of Australia’s history that has long been hidden and ignored,” Mundine said.

Mabo was a South Sea Islander who spoke frequently about the need for Aboriginal, Torres Strait Islander and South Sea Islander peoples to “work together as one to fight for our rights”.

Mabo Day: thousands celebrate on 25th anniversary of landmark land rights case Read more

She co-founded Australia’s first Indigenous community school, the Black community school in Townsville, where she worked as a teacher’s aide and oversaw day-to-day operations, including providing continuity and cultural training to all children.

Only last week she received one of James Cook University’s highest awards, an honorary doctorate of letters, in recognition of her outstanding contribution to the community.

During the long years fighting the native title court case – which eventually overturned the legal doctrine of terra nullius – Eddie worked as the gardener at the university, while Bonita worked night shifts at the prawn factory, riding her bicycle there each evening.

After her husband’s death Bonita Mabo increasingly sought recognition for her ancestors and awareness of the harsh treatment they endured.

About 60,000 Pacific Islanders were brought to Australia – “blackbirded” to work on sugar and cotton plantations, sheep and cattle farms, and in the pearling and fishing industries.