“I am somewhat guarded as a single mother and always have been like that especially since I became a mother of two daughters. Then my children became six, with the addition of four adorable grandchildren. First and foremost, God, Yesuah (Jesus) is my rock who has anchored my life with my seven children. This gift has forged character, and it is because of them in my life, I am. Knowing them has always kept me grounded and given me purpose in life’s bigger picture, and they are the biggest part of my life’s chapters.
This legacy continues on, with the fifth grandchild having just arrived. I am quiet, reserved, discreet, but also wild, crazy and zany. I am loud and proud; all rolled into one at different times and only my children have seen all those qualities at any given time in our history as a family. With others I am more composed, reserved.
These days it’s mostly community that I am busy with in my small corner of the world. This is the best example a mother, traditional owner in Country and leader can give to children. It is amazing how much family life and the traditions of family are our greatest ‘learnings’ in life to be both savoured and saved. They are also the biggest burdens that we carry as human beings so much more because they are the most invaluable of all life’s worths. I believe this is how God sees us all, especially the little children, after all God sent his son to die for us and the legacy lives on.
I am a Jagera / Ugarapal woman of the Yaggara Language peoples of South-East Queensland. My ties to this Country are also anchored by neighbouring connections. My grandmother Louisa Sandy is Yugambeh, my great grandmother is Bunjalung, and my great, great grandmother is Githabul. My grandfather Henry Bonner, his mother, her father, and his father were all of Jagera descendancy and his mother was of the Western Wakka Wakka tribe.”