Aunty Dorothy Peters

Please note this page includes the image and story of a deceased First Nations woman.

Aunty Dot used her roles as activist, educator, author and Elder to raise awareness of a range of issues impacting First Nations people.

Aunty Dot was born in Melbourne in 1930 but spent most of her childhood in the Healesville region. Aunty Dot's father, Vincent, was a Yorta Yorta man who fought in the Second World War and was captured and died a prisoner of war. Like many Aboriginal service people at the time, Vincent’s sacrifice went unacknowledged and his family was not awarded the same compensation as those of other servicemen.

Because of the injustice of this experience, Aunty Dot campaigned to have First Nations’ peoples’ contributions to the armed forces formally recognised. She was central in establishing the first Victorian Aboriginal Remembrance Service at the Shrine of Remembrance in Melbourne, which is now held annually nationwide.

Aunty Dot was also passionate about ensuring cultural practices and knowledges were protected, celebrated and passed down through generations. Aunty Dot learned how to weave traditional baskets and eel traps from her grandmother at Coranderrk Aboriginal Reserve and later hosted workshops to pass these skills and traditions onto younger generations. She was an Aboriginal Educator at a local primary school and wrote a Dreaming story about how Badger Creek got its smooth rocks and clear water.

Aunty Dot passed away in 2019.

Proposed location: Knox City Council, Wurundjeri Woi-wurrung and Bunurong country

Aunty Dorothy Peters, Victorian Women's Public Art Program

Image source: Honouring Black Diggers website

The Women's Public Art Program complements the Victorian Honour Roll of Women, which celebrates women's outstanding leadership and contributions to life in Victoria.

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