Rhoda Roberts AO, Influential Indigenous Arts Leader and 'Welcome to Country' Originator, Dies at 66

Aunty Rhoda Roberts AO (1959-2024): A Trailblazer for First Nations Arts and Culture

Aunty Rhoda Roberts AO, a revered Widjabul Wieybal woman of the Bundjalung Nation and an eminent figure in Australian arts and cultural advocacy, passed away on April 6, 2024, at the age of 66. Roberts was widely recognized for her extensive contributions to First Nations representation in media and the arts, including introducing the term "Welcome to Country" in the 1980s and serving as the inaugural head of Indigenous programming at the Sydney Opera House. Her passing followed a seven-month battle with ovarian cancer.

Early Life and Education

Rhoda Roberts was born on July 8, 1959, in Camperdown, Sydney. Her parents were Frank Roberts, an Aboriginal pastor and civil rights activist, and Muriel (née Fleming), a non-Indigenous artist. Their marriage faced significant challenges due to the Aboriginal Protection Board policies of the time. Roberts grew up in Lismore, northern New South Wales, on Bundjalung Country, where she experienced racial discrimination and the threat of family separation by welfare authorities.

Her father was deeply involved in the 1967 Referendum, spoke at the Aboriginal Tent Embassy in 1972, and was instrumental in establishing the Koori Mail newspaper, always encouraging his children to speak their language despite existing prohibitions.

Roberts completed Year 10, becoming one of the first Indigenous students in her area to do so. Initially aspiring to a career in writing and journalism, she faced discouragement for university study or journalism in Lismore in the 1970s. She subsequently pursued nursing, training in Sydney after facing an initial refusal in Lismore due to her Aboriginal heritage. She qualified as a registered nurse in 1979 and worked in emergency nursing in London for five years.

A Career in Media and Arts Advocacy

Upon returning to Australia, Roberts pursued acting and co-founded the Aboriginal National Theatre Trust in 1988, addressing the critical need for better Indigenous representation in the arts.

Her influential media career included:

• Volunteering at Radio Redfern.
• Becoming the first Aboriginal host on mainstream television, co-hosting SBS's 'First in Line' with Michael Johnson in 1989.
• Becoming the first Aboriginal person to host a prime-time current affairs program with SBS’s 'Vox Populi' in 1990.
• Co-founding 'Deadly Sounds' in 1992, a radio program that ran for 21 years and provided a vital platform for Indigenous voices.
• Presenting ABC radio show 'Awaye!' and television programs 'A Sense of Place' and 'A World of Difference'.

Roberts is credited with introducing the term "Welcome to Country" in the 1980s, establishing protocol manuals for the arts industry and giving modern significance to traditional ceremonies for acknowledging Indigenous custodianship of land.

Her significant work in festival direction and cultural curation included:

• Serving as director of the Festival of the Dreaming in 1997, which she had launched in 1995.
• Acting as creative director for the Indigenous segment 'Awakening' for the Sydney Olympics opening ceremony in 2000.
• Serving as the inaugural head of First Nations programming at the Sydney Opera House from 2012 for nine years. During this tenure, she initiated the Dance Rites First Nations dance competition and supported the inclusion of Bangarra Dance Theatre and The Deadly Awards.
• Becoming creative director of the Parrtjima festival of light in Alice Springs/Mparntwe in 2017, which aimed to engage Australians with Aboriginal storytelling through light installations.
• Directing the Boomerang festival.

Roberts also held the position of SBS's first Elder-in-residence. She wrote a one-woman play, 'My Cousin Frank', which focused on her relative, Australia’s first Aboriginal Olympian, boxer Frank Roberts. She produced Yarrabah the Musical with Opera Australia and served on numerous boards throughout her career. She tirelessly advocated for the preservation and promotion of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander culture through language, dance, and ceremony, and worked to establish opportunities for First Nations talent.

Recognition and Personal Life

In 2016, Roberts was appointed an Officer of the Order of Australia (AO) for her distinguished service to the performing arts, leadership, advocacy, and promotion of contemporary Indigenous culture.

In 1994, Roberts became the guardian of her niece, Emily, following her twin sister Lois’s car accident. Her marriage to actor Bill Hunter ended in 1998; Hunter died in 2011. In 2011, Lois disappeared, and her remains were later found, with her death remaining unexplained.

Passing and Funeral Services

Rhoda Roberts passed away peacefully in hospital on Saturday afternoon, April 6, 2024, after a seven-month battle with ovarian cancer. Her family confirmed her passing, stating she had "returned to the Dreaming."

A funeral service was held at St Carthage's Cathedral in Lismore, on Bundjalung Country, northern New South Wales. The service was attended by over a thousand mourners and live-streamed on NITV. The ceremony commenced with a smoking ceremony and featured musical tributes by Troy Cassar-Daley and Casey Donovan. The Jannawi women's Dance Group performed, brushing the coffin with branches, and Yolngu song man Djakapurra Munyarryun sang a song in language.

Her family noted her dedication to "culture, country and people from all walks of life." Prime Minister Anthony Albanese described Roberts as a "trailblazer" who enriched Australians' understanding of the world's oldest living culture, stating her legacy made it easier for others to follow. SBS, where Roberts served as its first elder-in-residence, described her as a "true trailblazer" who played a transformative role in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander representation. Minister for Indigenous Australians, Malarndirri McCarthy, acknowledged Roberts as a confidante and mentor during their shared careers in journalism.

Roberts is survived by her partner, Stephen Field, her niece and guardian daughter Emily, and their children, Jack and Sarah. SBS is scheduled to air a curated collection of programs nightly until April 6 in tribute to her contributions.