Naomi Mayers (born 1941) is a leader in Australian health. She is also known for having been lead vocalist of the music group The Sapphires, on which a popular 2012 film of the same name was based.

Early life

Mayers was born in 1941, of

Yorta Yorta The Yorta Yorta, also known as Jotijota, are an Aboriginal Australian people who have traditionally inhabited the area surrounding the junction of the Goulburn and Murray Rivers in present-day north-eastern Victoria and southern New South Wales ...

and

Wiradjuri The Wiradjuri people (; ) are a group of Aboriginal Australian people from central New South Wales, united by common descent through kinship and shared traditions. They survived as skilled hunter-fisher-gatherers, in family groups or clans, a ...

heritage. She was one of three members of The Sapphires, along with Beverly Briggs (her sister) and Laurel Robinson, in the 1960s. She and Briggs chose not to travel with the group to

Vietnam Vietnam or Viet Nam ( vi, Việt Nam, ), officially the Socialist Republic of Vietnam,., group="n" is a country in Southeast Asia, at the eastern edge of mainland Southeast Asia, with an area of and population of 96 million, making i ...

, owing to their

opposition to the Vietnam War Opposition to United States involvement in the Vietnam War (before) or anti-Vietnam War movement (present) began with demonstrations in 1965 against the escalating role of the United States in the Vietnam War and grew into a broad social mov ...

Career in health

She became involved in the foundation of the Aboriginal Medical Service in 1971, encouraged by Fred Hollows. She was officially appointed as coordinator in 1972, with fellow Sapphires Robinson and Briggs joining the service later. She had had some nursing experience, and started as an administrator. Mayers helped to lead the institution over the following 40 years, with the help of people like Dulcie Flowers and " Mum Shirl" (Shirley Smith), in 2012 she was CEO of the organisation. She is regarded as a leader in Aboriginal health services. In 1976 Mayers,

Bobbi Sykes Roberta "Bobbi" Sykes (16 August 194314 November 2010) was an Australian poet and author. She was a lifelong campaigner for Indigenous land rights, as well as human rights and women's rights. Early life and education Born Roberta Barkley Patt ...

Sue Chilly Sue or SUE may refer to: Music * Sue Records, an American record label * ''Sue'' (album), an album by Frazier Chorus * " Sue (Or in a Season of Crime)", a song by David Bowie Places * Sue Islet (Queensland), one of the Torres Straits isla ...

(also spelt Chilli), and Marcia Langton formed the

Black Women's Action Roberta "Bobbi" Sykes (16 August 194314 November 2010) was an Australian poet and author. She was a lifelong campaigner for Indigenous land rights, as well as human rights and women's rights. Early life and education Born Roberta Barkley Pat ...

(BWA) group, which later evolved into the Roberta Sykes Foundation. BWA published a monthly community newspaper for Aboriginal people, ''Koori Bina'' (meaning "Black ears"), which ran until June 1979. In 1989, Mayers was the lead author of a government strategy document, "A national Aboriginal health strategy".

Recognition and honours

In 1984 Mayers was awarded the

Medal of the Order of Australia The Order of Australia is an honour that recognises Australian citizens and other persons for outstanding achievement and service. It was established on 14 February 1975 by Elizabeth II, Queen of Australia, on the advice of the Australian Gove ...

for "service to Aboriginal welfare". In 2006, she was the subject of a television made by Film Australia for

SBS Television The Special Broadcasting Service (SBS) is an Australian hybrid-funded public service broadcaster. About 80 percent of funding for the company is derived from the Australian Government. SBS operates six TV channels ( SBS, SBS Viceland, SBS Wor ...

, entitled ''Jetja Nai medical mob : Naomi Mayers''.

References

External links

Joseph and Naomi Mayers
Photo taken at the Aboriginal Medical Service 30th anniversary dinner {{DEFAULTSORT:Mayers, Naomi Australian indigenous rights activists Women human rights activists Living people 1941 births Aboriginal Australian health Recipients of the Medal of the Order of Australia