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State Funeral Service for Aunty Fay Carter OAM

A State Funeral Service to honour the life of revered Dja Dja Wurrung and Yorta Yorta Elder Aunty Fay Carter OAM was held at 10 am on Wednesday, 12 June at Ulumbarra Theatre in Bendigo.

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander readers are advised that the following article contains the name and image of a person who has passed.

About the State Funeral Service for Aunty Fay Carter OAM

A State Funeral Service to honour and celebrate the life of Aunty Fay Carter was held at 10 am on Wednesday, 12 June at Ulumbarra Theatre in Bendigo.

As a proud Dja Dja Wurrung and Yorta Yorta Elder, Aunty Fay was fiercely devoted to improving the lives and outcomes for Victoria’s Aboriginal community.

A highly respected advocate and a revolutionary leader – Aunty Fay truly demonstrated the power of perseverance, compassion, kindness and generosity.

She played an outstanding leadership role in strengthening the wellbeing of families and reforming welfare programs and services across aged care, childcare and health agencies.

One of her proudest and most recognised achievements was her work at the Aboriginal Community Elders Service (ACES). Aunty Fay worked alongside a tireless and resolute group of people to establish a community controlled age care centre for culturally appropriate services for Aboriginal Elders. It was the first of its kind in Australia.

And although she formally retired at the age of 72, Aunty Fay’s commitment to her Ancestors and community never wavered.

Later in life, she was involved in negotiations that achieved a landmark native title settlement in 2013, which formally recognised the Dja Dja Wurrung People as the Traditional Owners of the lands in central Victoria.

In recognition of her contributions to the Aboriginal community across Victoria, Aunty Fay was inducted into the Victorian Aboriginal Honour Roll in 2013 and was awarded the Medal of the Order of Australia in 2019.

In 2022, she contributed to Victoria’s ongoing truth-telling process at the Yoorrook Justice Commission Elder’s hearing. She told the commission about her birth on the verandah of Echuca Hospital, at a time when Aboriginal mothers were not permitted on the wards.

Aunty Fay was a sought-after advisor and mentor, but above all, she was a loving friend, matriarch and a voice for her Ancestors.

Her memory will live on through the stories shared and the next generation of leaders who will continue to impart her wisdom.

The State Funeral Service was an opportunity for Victorians to pay tribute to her legacy and contribution to the state, community, and country.

  • A stage with flowers, a coffin, four flags and a projection of an Aboriginal lady with the words 'Aunty Fay Carter OAM'
  • A person wearing an official uniform walks through smoke from a small fire pit.
  • A person in a dark jacket signs a book.
  • A man with a beard in a suit speaks at a podium with flowers. He has white face paint across his nose.
  • A person in a grey suit jacket and blonde hair speaks at a podium that is covered in flowers.
  • A person playing a cello and a person at a microphone on a stage with flowers and a piano. They are both wearing black.
  • A lady with white hair and a grey jacket speaks at a podium with native flowers.
  • People in the audience of a dark theatre stand and clap.

  • Stage at the Ulumbarra Theatre at the State Funeral Service for Aunty Fay Carter OAM

    Stage at the Ulumbarra Theatre at the State Funeral Service for Aunty Fay Carter OAM

  • Smoking ceremony at the State Funeral Service for Aunty Fay Carter OAM

    Smoking ceremony at the State Funeral Service for Aunty Fay Carter OAM

  • Condolence books being signed at the State Funeral Service for Aunty Fay Carter OAM

    Condolence books being signed at the State Funeral Service for Aunty Fay Carter OAM

  • Tiriki Onus speaks at the State Funeral Service for Aunty Fay Carter OAM

    Tiriki Onus speaks at the State Funeral Service for Aunty Fay Carter OAM

  • Premier Jacinta Allan speaks at the State Funeral Service Aunty Fay Carter OAM

    Premier Jacinta Allan speaks at the State Funeral Service Aunty Fay Carter OAM

  • Performers at the State Funeral Service for Aunty Fay Carter OAM

    llana Atkinson performers at the State Funeral Service for Aunty Fay Carter OAM

  • Aunty Marlene Burchill speaks at the State Funeral Service for Aunty Fay Carter OAM

    Aunty Marlene Burchill speaks at the State Funeral Service for Aunty Fay Carter OAM

  • Attendees at the State Funeral Service for Aunty Fay Carter OAM

    Attendees at the State Funeral Service for Aunty Fay Carter OAM

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