Mum Shirl facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Mum Shirl
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Portrait
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| Born |
Coleen Shirley Perry Smith
22 November 1924 Erambie Mission, New South Wales, Australia
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| Died | 28 April 1998 (aged 73) Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
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| Resting place | Botany Cemetery |
| Nationality | Australian |
| Occupation | Social worker |
| Known for | Aboriginal rights |
| Spouse(s) | Cecil "Darcy Smith" Hazil |
| Children | 2 (1 died during childbirth) |
Coleen Shirley Perry Smith (22 November 1924 – 28 April 1998), known as Mum Shirl, was a very important Wiradjuri woman. She was a social worker and a humanitarian. This means she worked hard to help people and make their lives better. Mum Shirl was dedicated to getting justice and support for Aboriginal Australians.
She helped start many important groups in Redfern, a part of Sydney. These included the Aboriginal Legal Service, the Aboriginal Medical Service, the Aboriginal Tent Embassy, the Aboriginal Children's Services, and the Aboriginal Housing Company. During her life, she was called an Australian National Living Treasure.
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Mum Shirl's Early Life
Mum Shirl was born as Coleen Shirley Perry Smith in 1924. Her birthplace was the Erambie Mission, near Cowra, New South Wales. She did not go to a regular school because she had epilepsy. Instead, her grandfather taught her many things. She also learned to speak 16 different Aboriginal languages.
She started visiting Aboriginal people in jail. This began after one of her brothers was put in prison. She soon found that her visits helped other prisoners too. Mum Shirl also went to court with Indigenous people. They often did not understand the legal system. She became known as "Mum Shirl" because she would tell officials, "I’m his mum," when they asked about her relationship with the prisoners.
Helping People in Need
Because of her work, Mum Shirl was the only woman in Australia allowed to visit prisons freely in New South Wales. She traveled all over the state to help prisoners. She relied on her family and friends to get around. Later, the government department took away her special pass. This made it very hard for her to continue her support work.
Mum Shirl's help was not just for people in prison. She also spent a lot of time and money finding homes for children. These were children whose parents could not look after them. She also helped children who were lost find their parents again. Many children who had nowhere else to go ended up living with her. By the early 1990s, she had raised over 60 children. Many people who had no family or friends in Sydney also came to Mum Shirl’s house in Redfern looking for a place to stay.
A Voice for Aboriginal Rights
In 1970, Mum Shirl was a key leader. She worked with Ken Brindle, Chicka Dixon, and Elsa Dixon. They guided young Aboriginal people in a campaign for land rights. This was for the Gurindji people.
This same group also helped to create the Aboriginal Medical Service in July 1971. They also helped set up the Aboriginal Legal Service in 1971. Other groups she helped establish include the Aboriginal Black Theatre, the Aboriginal Tent Embassy, the Aboriginal Children's Services, the Aboriginal Housing Company, and a Detoxification Centre.
Her Faith and Community Work
Mum Shirl was a very religious Catholic. She was an important part of the Catholic Church of St Vincent's Redfern. She worked closely with the priest Father Ted Kennedy. She often visited schools and communities. This was to teach other Australians about Aboriginal issues and concerns. In the late 1960s, Mum Shirl also became an adviser for the Cardinal of the Archdiocese of Sydney.
Awards and Recognition
Mum Shirl received several important awards. She was made a Member of the Order of the British Empire in 1977. In 1985, she received the Order of Australia. The NAIDOC (National Aboriginal and Islander Day Observance Committee) named her Aborigine of the Year in 1990. Just a few months before she passed away, the National Trust called her one of Australian National Living Treasures. This means she was seen as a very special person in Australia.
Her Lasting Legacy
Mum Shirl had epilepsy throughout her life. She was badly hurt in a car crash. After that, she had a heart attack and stayed in the hospital for seven months. She passed away on 28 April 1998. Her funeral was held at St Mary's Cathedral, Sydney. Her friend Father Ted Kennedy led the service. Many important people attended, including the Governor-General of Australia, Sir William Deane. Also, many people she had helped over the years came to say goodbye.
Two years after her death, artists Bronwyn Bancroft and the Boomalli Aboriginal Artists Co-operative held an art exhibition in her honor. On 8 July 2018, Mum Shirl was featured in a Google Doodle. This was to celebrate NAIDOC Week. The theme that year was "Because of her, we can!" The doodle was created by Bigambul artist Cheryl Moggs.
