This is Bonita Mabo’s personal Journey. A Journey that starts with the life she shared with Eddie Mabo and his fight for Native Title. But her story does not finish there, Bonita is even more determined to fight again. The fight for the recognition of her South Sea Islander people.

Many people know of Bonita Mabo, widow of the late Eddie Mabo, and the historic native title claim they successfully fought on behalf of his Torres Strait Islander people. Few realise that Bonita is an Australian of South Sea Islander and Aboriginal descent, or how, through decades of work for Indigenous rights, she raised ten children, often single-handedly. Since her husband’s death, Bonita has a new campaign - recognition for her own people. In this program, she looks back over decades of struggle and commitment, and speaks of the pride she takes in sharing her heritage with her grandchildren and the wider community.

Documentary 2002, 26 Minutes
Everyday Brave Series

Teachers Notes
Level: Secondary, Tertiary, Lifelong Learning

Press Kit and Discussion with the Director

This films is Distributed by, and available from, Screen Australia

Festivals and Awards
2002     The Sydney Indigenous Film Festival
2002     Colourised Film Festival
2002     Commonwealth Film Festival
2002     Yorkton Short Film & Video Festival
2002     Nominated for a Canadian Golden Sheaf Award (Documentary Under 30 minutes)
2002     Tudawali Film and Video Awards     Nominated for Best Documentary
2002    Austrian ‘Festival der Nationen - Kurzfilme - Die Besten aus aller Welt’

Crew

Executive Producer
Mark Hamlyn

Producer
Priscilla Collins

Director
Danielle Maclean

Writer
Danielle Maclean

Narrator / Presenter
Nancia Guivarra

A Film Australia National Interest Program. Produced with the support of the National Council for the Centenary of Federation and the Australia Council. Produced in association with the Pacific Film and Television Commission and SBS Independent.

As screened on
SBS, 18/10/2002
SBS, 4/7/2003
SBS, 11/7/2004