Dr Lowitja O'Donoghue AC CBE DSG

07 Feb 2024 - by

The Australian Centre for Christianity and Culture, Charles Sturt University and the Anglican Diocese of Canberra and Goulburn have released a statement regarding the sad passing of Dr Lowitja O'Donoghue AC CBE DSG.

The Right Reverend Doctor George Browning, Anglican Bishop Canberra and Goulburn 1993 – 2008, and Founder of the Australian Centre of Christianity and Culture:

Alongside Sir William Deane as Governor-General, no one was more influential in the initial shaping and direction of the ACC&C than Dr Lowitcha O'Donohue, as its vision began to become a reality.

It was her view that Christianity and indigenous spirituality and culture were not only compatible, but further, if Christianity is to seriously contribute to Australia’s ongoing spiritual health, and contribute to national harmony, reconciliation and justice, then Christianity must be immersed in the songs and stories that have shaped the continent over millennia.   Her contribution made the linking of ‘Christianity’ and ‘Culture’ essential in the naming of the Centre.

Under her guidance the fireplace surrounded by its 12 stones became the spiritual focus of the Centre, and the first imprint on the land.  In due course seven pines were planted around the fireplace. To mark the visit to the Centre of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth, and, to reenforce a spirit of reconciliation, her Majesty planted a black pine and Lowitcha a white one.

Sir William commissioned a painting by the late renowned Elder, Lawman and painter of the Gija People (East Kimberly), Hector Jandany.  This painting, now held at the National Gallery, depicting the Holy Spirit in our land in the form of a white owl, has been reinterpreted at the Centre on a mural wall.   At its opening, while rejoicing in its presence, Dr O’Donohue expressed her disappointment that the Centre was in danger of falling short of its stated goal of being a real centre of reconciliation. There is no more important word to describe the purpose of the centre than reconciliation.

I was blessed to be a confidante and was well aware of the deep personal cost she bore as a change maker and shaper of national life.  Hers truly was a remarkable life.

We kept in contact after her retirement back to South Australia.

The Reverend Emeritus Professor James Haire AC, Executive Director from 2003 to 2013:

Dr Lowitja O’Donaghue played a very significant part in the development of the vision for the Australian Centre for Christianity and Culture (ACC&C) in its early years, as one of the three original Visionaries of the ACC&C, along with Sir William Deane and Bishop George Browning.   In this role, as subsequently as a member of the Council of Eminent Australians, in which I also had the privilege to serve, she made sure that justice for First Nations people and true reconciliation in Australian society were, and continued to be, central foci of the Centre’s work.   During the years that I served as Executive Director (2003 to 2013), she stressed these important foci, and did so in very practical ways.   She was determined and passionate in her striving for true justice and reconciliation for Australia’s first peoples, but always gracious and never bitter, despite her own enormous suffering under forms of systemic and other discrimination.   She frequently visited the ACC&C campus when she was in Canberra, and gave us, myself included, most helpful and practical advice and encouragement on how to advance these and other foci of the ACC&C. She was a devout Christian in the Baptist tradition, and her deep faith shone through in all the she did.   My impression always was that her influence, both in the First Nations communities and wider, was very much greater than simply the influence related to the many distinguished positions which she held over the years.   It was a great honour to have had the privilege of walking with her in the work of the ACC&C.