Carmine Munro facts for kids

Carmine "Maggie" Munro (born Carmine May Smith; 8 May 1931 – 29 December 2010) was an Aboriginal Australian elder. She lived in Moree, New South Wales. Maggie was a strong leader in her community. She was known for supporting human rights for Aboriginal people. She also started "The Granniators," a group of older Aboriginal women who helped their community.

Maggie was married to Lyall Munro Snr. One of their sons is Lyall Munro Jnr. Both Lyall Snr and Lyall Jnr were also important Aboriginal rights activists.

Early Life and Growing Up

Carmine May Smith was born on 8 May 1931. She was born in an Aboriginal camp in Moree. She was the second of three girls. Her parents were Raymond Smith, who worked on farms, and Mary Jane French.

Maggie's mother died when she was very young. Her father got married again. Maggie then had 12 more brothers and sisters.

When she was a child, Maggie helped her father. He worked on a large farm called Pullaman Station. Her job was to help fix fences. Her sister Beryl also helped with horses. But Maggie was scared of horses. She didn't get over this fear until she was older.

Maggie went to Moree Mission School. She only finished primary school. This was because Aboriginal children were not allowed to go to the local high school. Many years later, when she was 74, Maggie went back to study. She took classes in woodworking and upholstery at Moree TAFE. TAFE stands for Technical and Further Education. It's a type of college for practical skills.

She worked for families in the area as a house helper. She also cooked at the Gwydir Boarding House. Maggie was also a cook for shearers on farms. Shearers are people who cut wool from sheep. One farm was called Terlings. The owner, Sinclair Hill, was a good friend to Aboriginal people. He and Maggie stayed friends for life. Maggie also worked at the McMaster Ward in Moree District Hospital. This part of the hospital was only for Aboriginal people.

Working for Her Community

When Maggie was 16, she moved to Sydney. She went to the Aboriginal community in Redfern. Redfern was a very important place for Aboriginal politics in New South Wales. Maggie worked in an ice cream factory nearby.

Around 1950, Maggie married Lyall Munro Snr. Lyall became a very important leader for Aboriginal people. For the next 50 years, Maggie and Lyall were part of many important protests and actions for Aboriginal rights. They worked hard for Aboriginal land rights. This means getting land back for Aboriginal people.

Their son, Lyall Jnr, also became well-known in the movement. Maggie stayed in Moree. She focused on helping her local community. She looked after many children who needed a home. She was also active in the school's parent group. She was a dedicated member of the local football club's support group. Both Maggie and Lyall Snr were part of the local Aboriginal Advancement Committee. This group worked to improve life for Aboriginal people.

One of Maggie's most famous achievements was starting "The Granniators." She started this group when she was 74. It was a group of Aboriginal grandmothers. They worked for their community. They cooked, babysat, fostered children, and provided clothes. They were like mothers to many local children. Maggie also worked closely with the local police. She helped with issues about young people and the law.

Awards and Recognition

In 1993, Maggie received an important award. She was given the local National Aboriginal and Islander Day Observance Committee (NAIDOC) Murri of the Year Award. This award celebrates Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people.

Family Life

Carmine first met Lyall Munro Snr when they were children. Years later, they met again at the Gunnedah showgrounds in 1948. They became very close. Soon after, they ran away to Moree and got married. Lyall worked for the railways there.

They had many children:

• Paula (born 1950)
• Lyall Jnr (born 1951)
• Danile ("Dan")
• Keith
• Julie
• Selena
• Jennifer
• Lloyd (who became vice-chair of the Moree Local Aboriginal Land Council)
• Elizabeth
• Andrew
• William
• Alma

Maggie was a great cook and sewer. She often won first prize at the Moree show for her cooking. She was especially good at making scones and damper. She also won prizes for her sewing. She never used a sewing machine. She made everything by hand. Sometimes, she would stay up all night to finish a piece of clothing. Once, dresses for a wedding didn't arrive from Sydney in time. Maggie sewed them all by hand.

Maggie Munro passed away in Moree Hospital on 29 December 2010. Her funeral was held on 8 January 2011. She was survived by her husband Lyall and 10 of her children. Two of her children, Keith and Jennifer, had passed away earlier. She also had 70 grandchildren, 74 great-grandchildren, and three great-great grandchildren.