Maureen Watson

Maureen Watson, also known as "Aunty Maureen" (9 November 1931 – 4 January 2009), was an Aboriginal Australian activist actor, vocalist, writer, musician, and storyteller.

Early life and education Maureen Watson was born on 9 November 1931, in Rockhampton, Queensland, her mother's Kungulu country and attended school in the Dawson Valley, Together they had five sons and, in 1970 together with her family, she moved to Brisbane. She joined the growing Aboriginal rights movement and commenced an arts degree at the University of Queensland.

Career Books Watson produced an audiobook of numerous children's stories in 1994, called From Dreamtime to Spaceships. She created a children's picture book, Kaiyu's Waiting: An Aboriginal Story, illustrated by David Verral, and published in 1984.

Poetry Watson had a strong interest in both theatre and poetry. This helped her create numerous pieces of poetry, her first collection being published in 1982. In her poetry, she describes how Aboriginal people are viewed by the rest of society as well as how they view the modern world. She was involved in the theatre industry as an actor, vocalist, narrativist, adaptor and writer. Performances took her on tours throughout Queensland, New South Wales and Victoria as well as other places around the globe. The plays she contributed to include: Vocalist in “New Sky”, October 1983, performed at Playhouse, Newcastle, New South Wales Narrated in "Mundu Nyuringu", 1983, a film by Robert Bropho Acted in "Honey Spot", July 1988, performed at Cremorne Theatre, South Brisbane, Queensland as well as numerous other theatres through New South Wales and Victoria Wrote "Through Murri Eyes", September 1992, performed at the Jagera Arts Centre, South Brisbane, Queensland Acted in "Little White Dress", June 1996, performed at Performing Arts Centre, Southbank, Queensland Wrote and acted in "Kickin' Up the Dust", May 1998, performed at Swinburne University, Hawthorn, Victoria

Community contributions Gallery In 1981, she moved to Sydney, where she set up the Aboriginal people's gallery in Redfern. It was difficult to get permission for the gallery. The shop was not aimed at making a profit, it was more for those who wanted to put their work on display and to express who they are through their art work.

Radio Watson was a driving force behind the development of the indigenous broadcasting in Sydney community radio. Radio Redfern was allowed 10 hours of airtime weekly. Radio Skid Row gave them this opportunity because they were allocated a community broadcasting licence in 1984. The station was initially broadcast from the University of Sydney, but then later moved to a terrace house on Cope Street in Redfern, still under the license of 2RSR. The station was considered the voice for Aboriginal people in Sydney. In 1988 it played a big role in co-ordinating political protests against the Bicentennial celebrations and Aboriginal deaths in custody in the early 1990s. Radio Redfern grew to have 40 broadcast hours each week, with all the announcers contributing their time voluntarily. Maureen also briefly broadcast a show called Black Perspectives, focused on Aboriginal Women, on 2SER.

Sisters Inside An experienced and qualified neuro-linguistic programming counsellor, Watson worked with Sisters Inside, an independent support group for women in prison. for her labour in contributing to creating a cross-cultural understanding and harmony amongst the community.

In 1996, in recognition of her national and international contribution towards bringing awareness to Aboriginal arts, she was presented the Australia Council's Red Ochre Award,

Death On 4 January 2009, at approximately 3 pm, Watson had a stroke which proved fatal. In the days before her death, she spent time with her 24 grandchildren and numerous great grandchildren on Stradbroke Island. Her funeral service took place on 12 January 2009 at Murri School in Acacia Ridge, Queensland.