Today we acknowledge the sad loss of Aunty Walda Blow.

Aunty Walda was a Yorta Yorta and Wemba Wemba Elder who lived her life in pursuit of equality.

From her beginnings in Echuca to her passing, Aunty Walda was a fearless fighter for her community.

Aunty Walda grew up at Cummeragunja Mission on the Murray River, before moving to Brisbane. It was there that she met her future husband and partner in social justice, Reg, in 1962. They were married for forty six years, before his passing in 2012.

During their time together, they with other community members, helped established what would become the Dandenong and District Aborigines Co-Operative to deliver support to local Aboriginal families.

Continuing her lifelong work, Aunty Walda would go on to serve as manager, mentor and mother figure at Fairfield’s Margaret Tucker Hostel in 1991. She remained in that role, providing a healing place for vulnerable Aboriginal girls and women, for 21 years.

Aunty Walda also founded the Women’s Interfaith Network Foundation and contributed to numerous organisations including the Aborigines Advancement League, Elizabeth Hoffman House, the Aboriginal Housing Board of Victoria and the Victorian and National Councils of Churches.

Recognising her commitment, Aunty Walda was highly commended at the Robin Clark Memorial Awards and inducted to the Victorian Honour Roll of Women in 2012. She joined her husband Reg on the Victorian Aboriginal Honour Roll in 2014.

The Victorian Government offers Aunty Walda’s beloved family and friends our sincerest condolences.