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Rhoda Roberts, Indigenous leader who coined 'Welcome to Country,' dies at 66
Rhoda Roberts, an Indigenous Australian cultural leader and the originator of the 'Welcome to Country' acknowledgement, has died at age 66. Roberts, a Widjabul Wiyebal woman of the Bundjalung nation, dedicated her life to promoting Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander culture.
Rhoda Roberts, a Bundjalung Widjabul Wiyebal elder, served as an Aboriginal storyteller, festival director, curator, actor, and writer. Roberts introduced the term "Welcome to Country" in the 1980s, which gave modern significance to the traditional ceremony used to govern movement through Aboriginal lands. Roberts began her career as a registered nurse, a volunteer with Radio Redfern, and a drama student. In 1990, Roberts became the first Aboriginal person to host a prime-time current affairs program, SBS's Vox Populi. In 2012, Roberts became the inaugural head of Indigenous programming at the Sydney Opera House, a role she held for nine years. Roberts believed that sharing First Nations culture could lead to a shared future.
Key Facts
- Rhoda Roberts, an Indigenous cultural leader, has died at the age of 66.
- Roberts coined the term "Welcome to Country.".
- Roberts was a Widjabul Wieybal woman of the Bundjalung nation.
- In 1988, she co-founded the Aboriginal National Theatre Trust.
- In 1995, Roberts launched the Dreaming festival/Garrabadu.
- In 2000, Roberts worked as creative director for the Sydney Olympics Awakening Ceremony.
- In 1992, she co-founded Deadly Sounds, which ran for 21 years.
- Roberts served as the inaugural head of Indigenous programming at the Sydney Opera House for nine years.
Primary Source
Research Sources
- The Guardian — Rhoda Roberts, Indigenous broadcaster and cultural powerhouse - obituary
- The Sydney Morning Herald — Indigenous leader Rhoda Roberts, who coined 'Welcome to Country', dies age 66