By Cam Lucadou-Wells
Aunty Fay Carter’s long sense of service to the indigenous community was instilled from a young age.
The newly awarded Medallist of the Order of Australia (OAM) was just four when she joined the famous walkoff from the Cummeragunja Mission in 1939.
After years of neglect at the mission, 200 residents crossed the Murray River and camped on the river’s Victorian bank.
As one of the few original survivors of the walkoff, Aunty Fay is set to join the 80th-year commemoration on 4 February.
“It was a spark for Aboriginal people to try to become independent.
“The treatment at the missions was pretty harsh. We weren’t allowed to speak our language or do anything cultural.”
It was daunting to walk off the mission to become “fringe-dwellers”, Aunty Fay said.
The experiences growing up on The Flats galvanised her to later work on “how our people had suffered and were suffering”.
“I wanted to make a difference and advance our people as much as we could.”
Now living in Noble Park, Aunty Fay is most proud of co-founding the Aboriginal Community Elders Services, including the set-up of an indigenous aged care community in East Brunswick.
It is culturally fit for purpose, family oriented and knowing of Aboriginal elders’ backgrounds. It offers hostel beds, community-aid packages and day-care activities.
Aunty Fay has also been heavily involved in the Victorian Aboriginal Child Care Agency, the state branch of the National Aboriginal and Islander Day Observance Committee (NAIDOC) and Aborigines Advancement League.
In retirement, the 84-year-old Yorta Yorta and Dja Dja Wurrung elder has been involved in “cultural business” with her bloodlines.
“It’s been a rewarding experience, particularly at my age.”
