Lisa (Marie) Bellear (2 May 1961 in

Melbourne Melbourne ( ; Boonwurrung/ Woiwurrung: ''Narrm'' or ''Naarm'') is the capital and most populous city of the Australian state of Victoria, and the second-most populous city in both Australia and Oceania. Its name generally refers to a me ...

, Victoria – 5 July 2006 in Melbourne) was an

Indigenous Australian Indigenous Australians or Australian First Nations are people with familial heritage from, and membership in, the ethnic groups that lived in Australia before British colonisation. They consist of two distinct groups: the Aboriginal peoples o ...

poet, photographer, activist, spokeswoman, dramatist, comedian and broadcaster. She was a Goenpul woman of the

Noonuccal The Nunukul, also spelt Noonuccal and known also as Moondjan are an Aboriginal Australian people, one of three Quandamooka peoples, who traditionally lived on Minjerribah, in Moreton Bay Area and in mainland Brisbane regions. Language The Nunu ...

people of

Minjerribah Stradbroke Island, also known as Minjerribah, was a large sand island that formed much of the eastern side of Moreton Bay near Brisbane, Queensland until the late 19th century. Today the island is split into two islands: North Stradbroke Islan ...

(

Stradbroke Island Stradbroke Island, also known as Minjerribah, was a large sand island that formed much of the eastern side of Moreton Bay near Brisbane, Queensland until the late 19th century. Today the island is split into two islands: North Stradbroke Isl ...

Queensland ) , nickname = Sunshine State , image_map = Queensland in Australia.svg , map_caption = Location of Queensland in Australia , subdivision_type = Country , subdivision_name = Australia , established_title = Before federation , established_ ...

. Her uncles were Bob Bellear, Australia's first Indigenous judge, and

Sol Bellear Solomon David Bellear (1950/1951 – 29 November 2017) was an Aboriginal Australian public figure. Early life Bellear was brought up in the far north of New South Wales and was one of nine children. His brother Bob became a judge. Activism In ...

who helped to found the Aboriginal Housing Corporation in Redfern in 1972. Bellear was adopted into a white family as a baby and was told she had Polynesian heritage. As an adult she explored her Aboriginal roots. Bellear died unexpectedly at her home in Melbourne. She was 45 years old. She was buried at Mullumbimby cemetery.

Published works and photography

Posthumous poetry collection ''Aboriginal Country'', Ed. Jen Jewel Brown, UWA Publishing, 2018 was chosen as one of the books of the year by poet John Kinsella in ''Australian Book Review''. Bellear wrote ''Dreaming in Urban Areas'' (UQP, 1996), a book of poetry which explores the experience of Aboriginal people in contemporary society. She said in an interview with

Roberta 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 Pat ...

that her "poetry was not about putting down white society. It's about self-discovery." Other poetry was published in journals and newspapers. She was awarded the Deadly Awards prize in 2006 for making an outstanding contribution to literature with the Ilbijerri Theatre Company performed play by Kylie Beling, John Harding and Gary Foley ''The Dirty Mile: A History of Indigenous Fitzroy'' (a suburb of Melbourne) based on her original concept; and her many published poems and performances of her writing as a poet, actor and comedian. Bellear was a prolific photographer. Her work was exhibited at the

2004 Athens Olympic Games The 2004 Summer Olympics ( el, Θερινοί Ολυμπιακοί Αγώνες 2004, ), officially the Games of the XXVIII Olympiad ( el, Αγώνες της 28ης Ολυμπιάδας, ) and also known as Athens 2004 ( el, Αθήνα 2004), ...

and at the

Melbourne Museum The Melbourne Museum is a natural and cultural history museum located in the Carlton Gardens in Melbourne, Australia. Located adjacent to the Royal Exhibition Building, the museum was opened in 2000 as a project of the Government of Victoria, o ...

as part of their millennium celebrations.

Community activities

Bellear was a broadcaster at the community radio station 3CR in Melbourne where she presented the show 'Not Another Koori Show' for over 20 years. She was a member of the 2003 Victorian

Stolen Generations The Stolen Generations (also known as Stolen Children) were the children of Australian Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander descent who were removed from their families by the Australian federal and state government agencies and church miss ...

Taskforce, having herself been removed from her parents under this policy. She was also a founding member of the Ilbijerri Aboriginal & Torres Strait Islander Theatre Co-op, the longest-running Aboriginal theatre troupe in Australia. Ilbijerri produced ''The Dirty Mile'' in March 2006 as a dramatised walking trail through the streets of Fitzroy, Melbourne.

Recognition

* In 2008 Bellear was inducted posthumously to the

Victorian Honour Roll of Women The Victorian Honour Roll of Women was established in 2001 to recognise the achievements of women from the Australian state of Victoria. The Honour Roll was established as part of the celebrations of Victoria's Centenary of Federation. Public nom ...

. * The City of Melbourne in partnership with th
Victorian Women's Trust
recognised Bellear's life and work in 2018 in naming a laneway in Carlton, Warrior Woman Lane, after her. * The University of Melbourne named student accommodation at 303 Royal Parade, Parkville, Melbourne as Lisa Bellear House.

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Bellear, Lisa 1961 births 2006 deaths Australian indigenous rights activists Women human rights activists Australian photographers Australian women writers Indigenous Australian writers Australian Aboriginal artists Australian women artists Australian feminist writers Indigenous Australian feminists Members of the Stolen Generations