Sue Gordon facts for kids

Sue Gordon is a respected Aboriginal leader and former magistrate from Western Australia. A magistrate is like a judge who makes decisions in less serious court cases. She has been honored for her important work helping Aboriginal people and for her community efforts. She is well-known for leading the Gordon Inquiry in 2002. This inquiry looked into how government groups responded to problems in Aboriginal communities.

Early Life and Beginnings

Growing Up and Joining the Army

Sue Gordon was born in 1943 at Belele Station, which is near Meekatharra, Western Australia. When she was only four years old, she was taken away from her mother and family. This happened as part of a sad time in history known as the Stolen Generations. She grew up at Sister Kate's home in Queens Park, Western Australia.

After finishing school, Sue Gordon decided to join the army. From 1961 to 1964, she was a full-time soldier. She served in the Women's Royal Australian Army Corps (WRAAC). During this time, she was mostly based in the eastern parts of Australia.

A Career of Service

Working for Aboriginal Communities

After her time in the army, Sue Gordon worked in different office jobs across Australia. In the early 1970s, she started working a lot in the Pilbara region. This work was mainly in Aboriginal Affairs, helping both city and traditional Aboriginal people.

In 1977, she received a special award called the National Aboriginal Overseas Study Award. This allowed her to travel to the United States. There, she studied employment programs that helped Native American communities.

Breaking Barriers as a Leader

Sue Gordon made history in 1986. She was chosen to be the Commissioner for Aboriginal Planning. This made her the first Aboriginal person to lead a government department in Western Australia.

In 1988, she was appointed as a magistrate in the Perth Children's Court. At that time, she was the first full-time and the first Aboriginal magistrate in the state's history. This was a very important step for Aboriginal people in the legal system.

In 1990, she became one of the first five commissioners of the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Commission (ATSIC). ATSIC was a national organization that represented Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people. She served in this role for one year.

Leading the Gordon Inquiry

In 2002, the Premier of Western Australia, Geoff Gallop, asked Sue Gordon to lead an important inquiry. This inquiry looked into how government agencies responded to serious issues in Western Australian Aboriginal communities. It became known as the Gordon Inquiry.

One outcome of this inquiry was the closure of the Swan Valley Noongar Camp. The inquiry had started because of a report in 2001 about the death of a teenage girl at the camp.

National Indigenous Council

On April 15, 2004, Senator Amanda Vanstone appointed Sue Gordon to lead a new group. This group was called the National Indigenous Council. It was an advisory body that gave advice to the Federal Government. This happened after ATSIC was closed down.

After her appointment, Sue Gordon was asked about the Stolen Generation. She was also asked if she would ask for an apology from Prime Minister John Howard. She replied that she personally did not want an apology because it should have gone to her mother, who had already passed away. She also questioned what an apology would achieve at that point.

From June 2007 to June 2008, Gordon chaired the Northern Territory National Emergency Response Taskforce.

Continued Community Work

In 2010, she joined the board of Jawun, an organization that helps Indigenous communities. In the same year, she became the president of the Federation of Western Australian Police and Community Youth Centres (WA PCYC). She still holds this position as of July 2017.

As of 2018, she was also the President of The Graham (Polly) Farmer Foundation. This foundation is a not-for-profit group started in 1995 that focuses on education.

Awards and Recognition

Education and Honors

Sue Gordon earned a Bachelor of Laws (LLB) degree from the University of Western Australia. In 2003, the same university gave her an Honorary Degree of Doctor of Letters (Hon.DLitt). This is a special award given to people who have made great contributions.

She has received several other awards for her service. These include the Aboriginal Development Commission Australia Day Council Award in 1986. In 1994, she received the Paul Harris Fellow from the Rotary Club of Perth. In 2003, she was awarded the Centenary Medal for her service to the community, especially the Aboriginal community.

In 1993, Sue Gordon received the Order of Australia award. This high honor recognized her important work with Aboriginal people and her efforts in community affairs.

See also

• Select Committee on Reserves (Reserve 43131) Bill 2003