Note: Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people are advised the following release contains names and images of deceased persons. These have been used with the family’s permission in celebration of their achievements.

The Central Australia Health Service is celebrating the extraordinary legacy of Aboriginal women during NAIDOC Week, 8–15 July.

The theme of NAIDOC Week is ‘Because of her, we can’. We pay tribute to two strong Central Australian Aboriginal women, who worked in health and who, against all odds, became registered nurses in the 1960s.

These two amazing women succeeded in becoming registered nurses despite the challenges of the time. It is these women, along with all of the other amazing Aboriginal women who have worked and are still working at the Central Australia Health Service that we celebrate during NAIDOC Week.

Because of her, we can.

Nancy  Schmidt, c.1933

Nancy Schmidt’s desire to become a nurse was fierce, and she received her registration papers as a midwife at the Alice Springs Hospital on 23 July 1963.

Nancy was born Nancy Cameron and was taken from her mother’s care when she was very young. Her exact birthdate is not known, but is estimated at 1933.

Nancy grew up on Croker Island until about 1954, when she moved to Brisbane to work as a nanny. In 1958 she passed her nursing entrance exam. She worked at the Paddington Women’s Hospital where she specialised in midwifery.

In 1963, Nancy graduated top of the class in midwifery and then started working at the Alice Springs Hospital. In 1964 she started working at the Tennant Creek Hospital where she worked up until her retirement.

Nancy delivered hundreds of babies at Tennant Creek Hospital. She is known by most of the community as ‘Aunty Nancy’, a strong leader and a hard worker. Many of the people she delivered still stop her in the street to say hello.

Rona Glynn, 1936-1965

Rona Glynn was born in 1936 and she was the first Aboriginal school teacher and nurse in Alice Springs. She was 16 when she started teaching in Alice Springs.  She also wrote for the Centralian Advocate.

In 1954, Rona moved to Melbourne to train as a nurse, returning a year later. In 1962, she became the first Aboriginal Charge Sister in the Maternity Ward at the Alice Springs Hospital. She delivered around 2000 babies during her career. She passed away in 1965. A pre-school located at Ross Park Primary School was named after her in 1965 and she was the first Aboriginal woman to have a pre-school named in her honour in Australia.

The Central Australia Health Service NAIDOC Week events

The Alice Springs Hospital will be acknowledging NAIDOC week on Wednesday, 11 July at 12pm with a free BBQ. All are welcome.

The Atitjere Health Centre at the Harts Range Community will be hosting a free BBQ for NAIDOC Week on Thursday 12 July at 11am.

The Apatula Health Centre at the Finke Community will host a free BBQ for NAIDOC Week on Tuesday 10 July at 11am.

Media Contact - Nicole Ogilvie 0401 114 113