Margaret Heffernan (linguist) facts for kids

Margaret Heffernan, born in 1944, is an important elder from the Central Arrernte people. She is a talented linguist, author, interpreter, and translator. Margaret is known for creating the writing system, called an orthography, for the Arrernte language.

Margaret Heffernan's Early Life

Margaret Heffernan was born in 1944 at a special place called Werlatye Atherre. This site is just north of the Alice Springs Telegraph Station. It is part of the Caterpillar Dreaming story. She is also connected to the Water Dreaming because she was conceived at another sacred site, Apmere Yetwernte, near Aileron.

When Margaret was young, her family often traveled around Central Australia. They moved for family gatherings, ceremonies, and work. In 1949, her family moved to the Jervois Range. This area is far to the east, near the Queensland border. Her father worked there at an old copper mine with Kurt Johannsen.

The family stayed there for about a year. Margaret's mother was pregnant and wanted to return to Alice Springs. She wanted to be with her family and traditional midwives for the birth. After this, they moved to Yambah Station for another year.

Settling in Alice Springs

In 1951, Margaret's family finally settled in Alice Springs. They lived at Middle Camp, by Charles Creek. Here, Margaret had to start attending school. The school was at the former Bungalow, which was then an Aboriginal Reserve at the Alice Springs Telegraph Station.

Margaret remembers that the older people worried about school. They felt it did not fit well with their culture. It did not allow time for ceremonies or teaching old ways. But no one asked them. Margaret was allowed to go home to her family at night.

In 1953, her family moved to Santa Teresa. This place is now called the Ltyentye Apurte Community. Once there, Margaret had to live separately from her family. She stayed in a dormitory connected to the school. She could only visit her family on weekends. Margaret finished school in the late 1950s.

After school, Margaret worked in the kitchens at Amoonguna. There, she met her husband, Tommy Dixon. He was an Anmatyerr man from Napperby Station. In the first years of their marriage, they traveled between Napperby Station and Santa Teresa.

Margaret Heffernan's Career

Margaret Heffernan began working with languages after becoming a bilingual education teacher. She taught at Santa Teresa School. This work inspired her to study a Diploma of Linguistics. She studied at the Batchelor Institute of Indigenous Tertiary Education.

At Batchelor, she worked with linguist Gavan Breen. Together, they created the writing system for the Arrernte language. This system helps people read and write Arrernte.

After her studies, Margaret taught at the Institute for Aboriginal Development. She also taught at Yipirinya School. She worked with Margaret James on the Central Arrernte versions of the Honey Ant Readers.

Publishing Her Story

In 2018, Margaret Heffernan published her autobiography. An autobiography is a book about a person's own life. Gerard Waterford and Francis Coughlan helped her with the book. The book is called Gathering Sticks: lighting up small fires. It was published by IAD Press.

Margaret wanted to help young people keep their traditions strong. She also wanted to keep Arrernte families and language strong. By telling her story, she wanted to pass on her life experiences to her children and future generations. Artist Rod Moss reviewed her book. He said her voice in the book is "firm but free of the bitterness."

Margaret Heffernan's Personal Life

As of 2019, Margaret Heffernan lives at Hidden Valley. This is a town camp in Alice Springs. She lives there with her daughters.

Margaret has a Catholic faith. She has also said that the church needs to do more for the Aboriginal community.