Aunty Margaret Rose Atkinson

Aunty Margaret Atkinson was born in Swan Hill, the youngest of 7 children to Evelyn Atkinson (née Hunter) and Clarence Atkinson. She is a proud mother of 3, with 13 grandchildren and 24 great- grandchildren. Known affectionately as Aunty Marg, she has always been passionate about family and community, and she has dedicated a lifetime of service to Aboriginal organisations across Victoria.

Aunty Marg has been a Director of the Victorian Aboriginal Child and Community Agency (VACCA) since 2012, and was made a VACCA Life Member in 2023. In 2024, Aunty Marg was also inducted as a Life Member of VACSAL, the Victorian Aboriginal Community Services Association Ltd. She is a member of the Elders’ Voice group, providing cultural guidance to the First Peoples’ Assembly of Victoria. For many decades, Aunty Marg has brought spirit, integrity and determination to improve the lives of those who are most vulnerable. She is a respected Elder and committed advocate who has worked tirelessly to improve services for Aboriginal people.

As a young woman in the 1970s, Aunty Marg became involved in Aboriginal community services in Melbourne. One of Aunty Marg’s first jobs was as a junior secretary for the Aborigines Advancement League. Here she saw firsthand the importance of community organisations that took care of families. Aunty Marg then went to live and work at the Lady Gladys Nicholls Hostel for Aboriginal girls in Northcote. While there, she supported young women to connect to community and other services. Aunty Marg has continued to do this work throughout her life. Whatever circumstances families and young people face, Aunty Marg has been there.

When Aunty Marg moved to the Latrobe Valley in the late 1970s, she established the Latrobe Valley Koorie Netball Club. Aunty Marg spent years carpooling, getting funding for equipment, and coaching. Aunty Marg led through example and only retired from netball in her 60s. In recognition of her years of service, the club presents ‘The Aunty Margaret Atkinson Award’, to the most valuable player on the day at the Senior Koorie Carnival.

Aunty Marg is deeply loved and respected for her work across community services, including education. Aunty Marg has worked across the education sector, in early childhood, primary, secondary and adult education. She has had a lasting impact on Koorie education in the Latrobe Valley. Aunty Marg has worked in kindergartens, reassuring parents that a Koorie person will be with their children. She worked at St Luke’s Kindergarten and at the Elizabeth Street Primary School in Moe for 15 years. Her focus has always been about making education safer and culturally empowering for Koorie kids. She has worked with many teachers, students and families over the years to provide a strong connection to community.

Aunty Marg also helped set up the Koorie Unit at Gippsland TAFE. While there, she worked on supporting community literacy, culture and artistic programs. With 4 other Aboriginal women, Aunty Marg helped establish a community learning centre as part of Kurnai College. In her role as Wurreker Broker with the Victorian Aboriginal Education Association Inc (VAEAI), Aunty Marg continued to create opportunities for others. Aunty Marg has also served as the Chair of the Latrobe Valley Local Aboriginal Education Consultative Group (LAECG). For many years, in many different roles, Aunty Marg has worked with community to create learning opportunities and access to education for Aboriginal people.

A formidable organiser and representative for her community, Aunty Marg has always been dedicated to increasing awareness of Koorie stories, lives and issues. There are very few organisations Aunty Marg has not been a part of. Across Melbourne and Gippsland, Aunty Marg has worked for VACCA, VAEAI, VACSAL and the Gippsland and East Gippsland Aboriginal Cooperative. She has been a case worker and supervisor, liaising with government departments and advocating for families. During times when government agencies have been viewed with suspicion, Aunty Marg has been a trusted source of advice and support. In her work for the community, Aunty Marg helps people feel safe, to amplify their voice and advocate for themselves.

Aunty Marg’s work in advocacy also extends to justice, community services and local government. Aunty Marg was part of the original pilot program for County Koori Court in the Latrobe Valley. She was then asked to serve on the Koori Court when it was formally established in 2008. Through her role in the Koori Court, Aunty Marg provides advice on cultural practices and protocols and is a powerful advocate for accountability. She continues to push to elevate the role of Elders and cultural authority in community.

Aunty Marg has also worked to create partnerships between service providers. She has worked to bring together Aboriginal people and organisations, with local government, businesses and services across the Latrobe Valley for decades. In the late 1990s, she helped establish the Latrobe City Council’s Brayakaulung Advisory Committee. This Committee was created to give advice to Council on engagement with the Aboriginal community. Aunty Marg was instrumental in the early work of the Committee, supporting community participation and Council support of events such as NAIDOC.

Aunty Marg’s service to the region continues as a committee member for the Latrobe Valley Partnership. In that role, she continues to advise on service delivery for Aboriginal people, and empowering young people to get involved. Aunty Marg’s cultural guidance and expertise in community development continues to be deeply valued in the region.