Ngardarb Francine Riches credits her Aboriginal upbringing, a love of community, her faith and her grandfather for the woman she has become.
Ms Riches, of Maribyrnong, was inducted onto the Victorian Honour Roll of Women earlier this year for her extensive community work, particularly with indigenous people.
Nominations opened last week for the next round of inductees to the honour roll, which recognises the achievements and contributions of Victoria’s most remarkable women.
One of Ms Riches’ greatest role models was her grandfather. “He was a great leader who led by example through service to others,” she said.
Ms Riches is a respected artist and bases much of her community work around the arts.
“My arts group is a way of crossing borders,” she said. “We [Aboriginal people] are stereotyped and we need to move away from this negativity and make something positive through our work.”
She and husband Tony have set up indigenous programs through their church in Footscray and often visit the country to reconnect with their roots.
“We’re communal people and because of the stolen generation we’ve lost some of that,” she said. “I was raised traditionally by my grandfather. With my work in the community I try to get people to speak the language and I’ve seen a real increase in people using the language and learning the old ways.”
Other inductees to the Victorian Honour Roll of Women this year include family violence campaigner Rosie Batty and former Labor MP the late Lynne Kosky.
Nominations close on August 21.
