Grey Electorate Renamed for Dr. Lowitja O’Donoghue

0:00The Australian Electoral Commission has proposed renaming South Australia's largest federal electorate, Gray, after Dr. Loija O'Donahue, the renowned Aboriginal leader who passed away last year. Gray covers more ground than the entire state of New South Wales, spanning about 908,000 square kilometers, and this change would make her the first Indigenous woman to have a federal seat named in her honor. Dr. O'Donahue broke barriers as the first Indigenous nurse at the Royal Adelaide Hospital and played a key role in securing native title laws. She also became the first Aboriginal Australian to speak at the United Nations General Assembly. The Commission highlighted her deep ties to the Anangu Pichon Jajara, Yankunit Jajara Lands, mostly within Gray. Family members, including her niece Dev Edwards from the Loija O'Donahue Foundation, welcomed the idea after being consulted. They noted it fits perfectly since the area was her country, where she was born and worked extensively.

1:01The current name honors colonial governor, Sir George Gray, but his limited Australian links and past policies on Indigenous testimony tipped the scales toward change. Meanwhile, the proposal includes tweaks to other electorates like Mayo, Spence, Barker, Boothby, Kingston, and Macon to balance voter numbers amid, population growth in regional and urban spots. Mayo would shrink, but still stretch from the Adelaide Hills to Kangaroo Island. These boundaries aim to keep seats fair for years ahead, with public input open now before final decisions. That wraps Adelaide news today. Brought to you with AI.