Aunty Noeline Briggs Smith OAM has stood at the vanguard of social change for most of her life, as she has constantly fought to make a positive difference in the local Aboriginal community. While the achievements of the stalwart are well known in Moree, they could be nationally recognised after Aunty Noeline was successfully nominated for Australian of the Year.
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Alma Lees Florist owner and proud friend Suzanna Lysaught nominated Aunty Noeline for the prestigious award. She could barely contain her excitement at the incredible news that the nomination had been accepted.
“This wonderful woman is overqualified for such an award,” she said.
“She has dedicated herself to so many Aboriginal projects with outstanding results. She has put [countless] hours of her time into the Moree history of Aboriginal people so the younger generation will appreciate their culture.”
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Aunty Noeline has a list of achievements that are longer than her arm. To name a few, she was appointed as Aboriginal researcher for the Dhiiyaan Aboriginal Centre, stood on the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Employment and Engagement committee at the University of Western Sydney (UWS) and helped to raise the Aboriginal flag at the local library amid a tumultuous and racially unwelcoming nineties.
The author of three books was awarded an Order of Australia Medal in recognition of her achievements. She also received the UWS Community Award and made it onto the 2012 Who’s Who of Australian Women.
Arguably, Aunty Noeline’s biggest achievement in Moree is chronicling the local Aboriginal family history. With a Local, Family and Applied History degree under her belt, Aunty Noeline has been poring over family trees and connecting ancestors to living members of the community.
A Kamilaroi woman herself, Aunty Noeline draws her roots from humble beginnings in Moree.
On moonlit nights we would sit outside under a bough made from gum tree branches. Animals would make strange sounds and Granny Lizzie would mimic them, telling me their names in her Kamilaroi language, which she very seldom spoke.
- Aunty Noeline Briggs-Smith
For a time she lived with the elder, Granny Lizzie.
The basic-built hut was planted on the outskirts of town on the bank of the Mehi River.
“Granny’s hut, like all the others was made of kerosene tins found at the dump,” Aunty Noeline said in an article she penned to a Fairview newsletter.
“It had one room with an earthen floor. The sleeping section was divided off with hessian wheat bags sewn together. The same type of curtain hung at the only door to keep the cold air out.
“An open fire place served for cooking and it also warmed the room.
“On cold nights our iron bed was pulled over in front of the fire for extra warmth.”
Despite the difficult living conditions, Aunty Noeline can still recall charmed moments in her life.
“On moonlit nights we would sit outside under a bough made from gum tree branches. Animals would make strange sounds and Granny Lizzie would mimic them, telling me their names in her Kamilaroi language, which she very seldom spoke.”
With so much behind her and so many achievements attached to her name, it’s no mystery why Aunty Noeline was nominated for Australian of the Year.
Though, the local icon takes any chance she can get to downplay her contributions.
“There are so many people who have done great things, like those divers who rescued the Thai soccer team from the caves. I didn’t expect that I would be nominated for something as prestigious as this award,” she said.
