Evelyn Scott (activist) explained

Honorific Prefix:Dr
Evelyn Scott
Birth Name:Evelyn Ruth Backo
Birth Date:1935
Birth Place:Ingham, Queensland
Death Place:North Queensland
Partner:Allen Scott

Evelyn Ruth Scott (1935 – 21 September 2017) was an Indigenous Australian social activist and educator.

She began working in the Townsville Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Advancement League in the 1960s. She was actively involved in campaigning for the 1967 Constitutional Referendum.[1] [2] [3]

In 1971, she joined the Federal Council for the Advancement of Aborigines and Torres Strait Islanders (FCAATSI) executive as a vice-president. She was a leader in the transformation of FCAATSI into an Indigenous-controlled organisation in 1973, with the support of Josie Briggs. She was active in the first national women's organisation, the National Aboriginal and Islander Council, formed in the early 1970s.[1] [2]

She became Chair of the Council for Aboriginal Reconciliation (CAR) in the late 1990s, at a challenging time when the federal government led by John Howard was cutting reconciliation funding.[1] [3]

Scott was inducted onto the Victorian Honour Roll of Women in 2001[4] and received the Centenary Medal in the same year.[5] She was appointed Officer of the Order of Australia in the 2003 Australia Day Honours.[6]

Scott was the mother of rugby league player Sam Backo.[7]

Evelyn Scott School, in the Australian Capital Territory, was started in 2021.[8]

Later life

In 2015, Scott was a resident in a care facility in Cairns.[9] Scott died on 21 September 2017 aged 81.[10] On 2 October 2017, Queensland Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk announced that a state funeral for Scott would be held in Townsville.[11] On 6 October 2017, the state funeral was held at the Townsville Stadium and was attended by Premier Palaszczuk, Leeanne Enoch (the first Indigenous woman to serve as a minister in a Queensland Government) and many Indigenous community leaders. Senator Pat Dodson delivered a eulogy which described Scott's leading role in the 1967 referendum to recognise Indigenous Australians.[12] [13] Scott was the first Indigenous woman to receive a Queensland state funeral.[14]

In popular culture

On the 28 May 2023, Dr. Scott was honoured with a Google Doodle featured on the Australian home page of the search engine. In Google's tribute to her, they acclaim her life as a tireless campaigner and unwavering leader, resulting in numerous achievements, awards, and honours.[15] The Google Doodle features an illustrated design by Indigenous guest artist Samantha Campbell,[16] who is descended from the Dagoman people from the country around Katherine in Australia's Northern Territory.

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Evelyn Scott. National Museum of Australia. 8 March 2016. https://web.archive.org/web/20160308123049/http://indigenousrights.net.au/people/pagination/evelyn_scott. 8 March 2016. live.
  2. Web site: 20 inspiring black women who have changed Australia . SBS . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20160612170929/http://www.sbs.com.au/nitv/nitv-news/article/2015/03/06/20-inspiring-black-women-who-have-changed-australia . 12 June 2016 . dmy .
  3. Web site: From Dispossession to Reconciliation. Parliamentary Library. 8 March 2016. https://web.archive.org/web/20160308114625/http://www.aph.gov.au/About_Parliament/Parliamentary_Departments/Parliamentary_Library/pubs/rp/rp9899/99Rp27. 8 March 2016. live.
  4. Web site: VICTORIAN HONOUR ROLL OF WOMEN: List of Inductees 2001 to 2011 . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20190305063250/https://www.whise.org.au/assets/docs/policy/Victorian%20Honour%20Roll%20of%20Women%202001-%202011.pdf . 5 March 2019.
  5. Web site: 2001-01-01 . Dr Evelyn Ruth Scott . 2022-06-02 . It's an Honour.
  6. Web site: 2003-01-26 . Dr Evelyn Ruth Scott . 2022-06-02 . It's an Honour.
  7. Web site: Indigenous recognition: Sam Backo and the long road to a level playing field. Michael. Gordon. 27 May 2017. 5 October 2017. The Sydney Morning Herald. https://web.archive.org/web/20170921152802/http://www.smh.com.au/federal-politics/political-news/indigenous-recognition-sam-backo-and-the-long-road-to-a-level-playing-field-20170525-gwditu.html. 21 September 2017. live.
  8. Web site: Evelyn Scott School in Denman Prospect is a principal's dream. Sarah. Lansdown. 28 Jan 2021. 30 July 2021. The Canberra Times.
  9. Web site: Reconciliation: Dr Evelyn Scott's lifelong passion. Matt Alison. 10 July 2015. 5 October 2017. https://web.archive.org/web/20171005002119/http://theblueroom.bupa.com.au/caring/considering-care/celebrating-dr-evelyn-scott-one-of-our-greats/. 5 October 2017. live.
  10. Web site: Dr Evelyn Scott, Indigenous rights activist and 'trailblazer', dies aged 81 . Corowa . Miriam . 21 September 2017 . ABC . 21 September 2017 . https://web.archive.org/web/20170921151343/http://www.abc.net.au/news/2017-09-21/dr-evelyn-scott-indigenous-rights-campaigner-dies-aged-81/8967192 . 21 September 2017 . live .
  11. Web site: The late Dr Evelyn Scott AO. Palaszczuk. Annastacia. 2 October 2017. The Queensland Cabinet and Ministerial Directory. Queensland Government. https://web.archive.org/web/20171005001509/http://statements.qld.gov.au/Statement/2017/10/2/the-late-dr-evelyn-scott-ao. 5 October 2017. live. 5 October 2017.
  12. News: Indigenous activist Evelyn Scott hailed as key freedom fighter at state funeral in Townsville. Abraham. Rhea. 6 October 2017. ABC News. 7 October 2017. https://web.archive.org/web/20171007000738/http://www.abc.net.au/news/2017-10-06/dr-evelyn-scott-state-funeral-townsville-qld/9021828. 7 October 2017. live. Australian Broadcasting Corporation.
  13. News: Queensland Indigenous activist Evelyn Scott remembered at state funeral. Bennett. Adam. 6 October 2017. The Age. 7 October 2017. https://web.archive.org/web/20171007001307/http://www.theage.com.au/queensland/queensland-indigenous-activist-evelyn-scott-remembered-at-state-funeral-20171006-p4ywbm.html. 7 October 2017. live.
  14. News: Social justice trailblazer laid to rest. Grace-Curran. Olivia. 7 October 2017. Townsville Bulletin. 7 October 2017.
  15. Web site: Celebrating Evelyn Ruth Scott AO . www.google.com . Google . 28 May 2023 . en . Today’s Doodle celebrates Indigenous Australian social activist, educator, and campaigner, Evelyn Ruth Scott AO. During National Reconciliation Week, we honor Evelyn who fought tirelessly for Indigenous rights..
  16. Web site: Illustrator Samantha Campbell . Samantha Campbell . Samantha Campbell . 28 May 2023 . en . Samantha Campbell is a published Children's Book Illustrator & Graphic Designer based in Alice Springs, Northern Territory. Samantha is descended from the Dagoman people from Katherine and as a child lived in remote Aboriginal communities across the Top End..

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