Indigenous arts leader and ‘Welcome to Country’ coiner dies aged 66
Updated ,first published
Warning: This story contains the name and images of a deceased Indigenous person.
Rhoda Roberts, the respected Indigenous arts leader who coined the term “Welcome to Country,” has died. He was 66 years old.
The Widjabul Wieybal woman of the Bundjalung nation has worked as a producer, director, writer, publisher, performer and administrator and has won many awards.
Born in Lismore in northern NSW, Roberts worked as a journalist for SBS early in his career. The broadcaster said at the tribute that she “made history as co-host in 1989”. First in line “Together with Michael Johnson, they became the first indigenous presenters on prime-time Australian television.”
In the 1980s he introduced the term “Welcome to Country”, giving a modern meaning to the traditional ceremony used to govern movement across Aboriginal land.
“It was time to reactivate what we’ve always done as protocol,” he said later. “It’s really important to invite the local ranger to an event to welcome us, honor our ancestors, and respect the land we are visiting.”
In 2000, Roberts served as creative director of the Indigenous division at the Sydney Olympics opening ceremony. He later became the first head of First Nations programming at the Sydney Opera House, where last year he produced a show about his boxer cousin Frank Roberts, who became Australia’s first Olympian in 1964.
Roberts was elected an Officer of the Order of Australia in 2016. Distinguished service to the performing arts, leadership, advocacy, and promotion of contemporary Indigenous culture.
Her family confirmed Saturday afternoon that “our beautiful Rhoda Roberts has returned to Dreaming” after a seven-month battle with ovarian cancer.
“Words fail to describe the true love, depth, intelligence and warmth that is our beloved Rhoda,” her family said in a message on Instagram.
“He dedicated his life to culture, country and people from all walks of society. He never judged and never discriminated, he always wanted to help improve people’s lives and provide love and care.
“He went through a lot of trauma in his life, but he kept fighting and never gave up.”
In a statement, SBS confirmed that Roberts, who served as the broadcaster’s first elder, had been given permission to release his name and image to the media.
Acting Managing Director Jane Palfreyman said: “Rhoda was a true pioneer and pioneer of many firsts in our industry, playing a transformative role in the representation of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people in Australia’s cultural landscape.”
“Our extremely proud Bundjalung woman, Rhoda, reminded us of the shoulders we stand on and the importance of the work we do,” said SBS First Nations director Tanya Denning-Orman.
Roberts is survived by her husband, Stephen, and their three children.
