Curating an exhibition about the life of the late Dr Lowitja O’Donoghue AC CBE DSG, widely described as one of Australia’s greatest First Nations leaders, was no small task. Her niece, Deb Edwards, who curated the exhibition LOWITJA: A Life of Leadership and Legacy, admits the greatest challenge was deciding what to leave out.

“Lowitja’s life and career spans just over ninety years and her public life story is at least sixty years,” she explained. “That’s a lot of life to try to compress into one exhibition.”

Faced with such a monumental story, Deb chose to keep it simple, focusing on key aspects of Lowitja’s extraordinary journey. Yet there remains more to tell, especially about Lowitja’s siblings and her international work. “Whatever I couldn’t fit in, I’m sure I will be able to cover in the future,” she said.

Beyond her formidable public image, the exhibition also reveals Lowitja’s deeply personal side. One of the stories shared is of her marriage to Gordon Smart. “It was love at first sight for Gordon when he first met Lowitja at the Repatriation Hospital in Belair,” Deb said. The couple married in 1979 in a creek bed at Pichi Richi Pass near Quorn in the Flinders Ranges, and although Lowitja’s work often took her far from home, Gordon maintained their house in Quorn. “Lowitja said that Gordon was very much loved and accepted by her people and that made her happy.”

Family ties are another theme running through the exhibition, especially the bond between Lowitja and her sister Amy Levai. “Lowitja and Amy were very close their entire lives. Amy was the first Aboriginal primary school teacher in South Australia and Lowitja was the first Aboriginal nurse at the Royal Adelaide Hospital,” Deb shared. “Two trailblazing young Aboriginal women,  sisters who stood up to discrimination and created great change in South Australia.”

For visitors, the hope is that Lowitja’s story will inspire resilience and belief in the power of service. “Lowitja would hope that visitors to the exhibition would feel inspired by her resilience and determination, traits which she demonstrated from a very early age,” said her niece. She added that Lowitja’s lifelong fight for reconciliation is a message for all: “She fought for it her entire life.”

While preparing the exhibition, there were some unexpected discoveries, especially among Lowitja’s personal photographs. “We found photographs which appear to be from when she was perhaps in her early twenties, and it’s Lowitja as we have never seen her before,” Deb revealed. “She is displaying a very fun and carefree side which is so lovely to see.”

Lowitja also kept countless letters from people across the nation, some simply addressed to “Lowitja O’Donoghue, Quorn, South Australia.” These mementos, carefully preserved, testify to the widespread respect and affection she inspired. “Receiving them and connecting with people far and wide, truly meant a lot to her.”

Curating the exhibition has not been without emotional weight, especially in telling the more painful chapters of Lowitja’s story, such as the Stolen Generations. “It has been a little difficult to share personal aspects of Lowitja’s life and particularly the more difficult themes such as the Stolen Generations,” Deb admitted. “However, Lowitja would expect me to present truth-telling content and she always stood up to the difficult challenges in life.”

There is an intensely personal connection to every part of the exhibition for the family. “It’s our family’s story as much as it is Lowitja’s, mine, my daughter’s, my Mum’s, my grandmother’s,” Deb said. “It’s important to tell these stories, and so we have an emotional connection to pretty much all the content.”

When asked what part of Lowitja’s legacy should resonate most with younger generations, the answer is clear: her determination to break barriers in nursing. “I feel that younger generations would learn so much from the struggle Lowitja went through to become the first Aboriginal person permitted entry to the Royal Adelaide Hospital to train as a nurse,” said her niece. Despite facing harsh discrimination—and even being forced to start her training over—Lowitja achieved triple certificate qualifications in nursing, midwifery, and mental health. “Nursing was her proudest achievement.”

Working so intimately with Lowitja’s life story has only deepened the family’s appreciation for her incredible contributions. “Seeing Lowitja’s influence on Australian history and Aboriginal Affairs expressed on the walls of the gallery has made me feel even more proud and more astounded about all the things she was able to achieve,” said the curator. “Perhaps I have recognised that her impact was even greater than I realised.”

Yet there is still work to do to ensure Lowitja’s legacy is fully appreciated. “Very much lacking is education across learning institutions at all levels,” Deb reflected. “Our current and future generations of young people, both Indigenous and non-Indigenous, do not know about leaders such as Lowitja.” That is why the family established the Lowitja O’Donoghue Foundation in 2022, and why this exhibition is so vital, to ensure her story continues to inspire.

While there are no plans yet for an international tour, the hope is to take the exhibition to national galleries. “Many people have said that an exhibition such as Lowitja’s must be seen in our national galleries, and that will most likely be the next step. I would love to see it travel to Canberra next.”

Through LOWITJA: A Life of Leadership and Legacy, visitors can glimpse the extraordinary life of a woman who, against all odds, became one of Australia’s most influential voices for justice, health, and reconciliation. As Deb, her niece, so beautifully put it: “Lowitja would hope that visitors feel inspired by her resilience and determination… and believe that through being of service, they can lead for, and with, their communities for better outcomes.”

It is free entry Monday to Friday from 9 am until 6 pm, but there are also paid guided tours available for groups.

The tours have proved popular, with no available tours up until July 10th. With the exhibition closing on July 25, there is a great opportunity to learn about one of the great trailblazers. 

You can book tours through the link below or contact foundation@lowitja.org.au.

LOWITJA | A Life of Leadership & Legacy | Group Guided Tour