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Born
Kathleen Jean Mary Ruska,
Bulimba, Brisbane -
Education
At thirteen, she completed her formal education at Dunwich State School -
WWII
Ruska enlisted in the Australian Women’s Army Service -
Marriage
At the Methodist Church, West End, she had married Bruce Walker, a childhood friend -
Discharged
She transferred to the district accounts office before being discharged after 7 months -
Second Child
She had a second son, Vivian; his father was Raphael Cilento junior -
State Secretary
Elected Queensland State secretary of the Federal Council for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Advancement -
Jacaranda Press
We Are Going became the first poetry publication by an Aboriginal Australian -
Awards
The Jessie Litchfield award for literature, a Fellowship of Australian Writers award, and the Dame Mary Gilmore medal -
Referendum
She met with cabinet ministers, and wrote and delivered speeches to empower the Federal government to legislate on Aboriginal affairs -
Greenslopes
Walker stood for the Australian Labor Party in the Liberal stronghold of Greenslopes in the State election, but lost -
Return to Minjerribah
Aged fifty, suffering ill health and facing challenges for power from younger Aboriginal leaders, Walker returned to Minjerribah -
Shadow Sister
She appeared in a film biography, Shadow Sister; her performance won the Black Film Makers’ award in San Francisco -
Australian Democrats
She stood as a candidate for the Australian Democrats in the State election, without success -
Death
She died of cancer at the Repatriation General Hospital, Greenslopes, Brisbane -
Oodgeroo Unit
Queensland University of Technology renamed its Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Support Unit the Oodgeroo Unit