Australian Biography: Rosalie Kunoth-Monks

Until the age of nine, Rosalie Kunoth-Monks lived on remote Utopia Station in the Northern Territory where she learnt the Aboriginal laws of her tribe, the Anmatjere people.

Her father insisted she attend school in Alice Springs, where in 1953 she was discovered by filmmakers Charles and Elsa Chauvel. Rosalie won the lead role in Jedda (1955), a film that became an Australian classic.

Filming took Rosalie away from the life she had known. Though for a year she was exposed to totally new and bewildering experiences, once production was completed she resumed her former life for a time. 

Rosalie became increasingly attracted to the Anglican Church. In 1960 she moved to Melbourne, joined the Community of the Holy Name and became a nun. After 10 fulfilling years in the convent, Rosalie left to set up the first Aboriginal hostel in Victoria.

In 1970 she married, settled in Alice Springs and became involved in social work and politics. The then Northern Territory Chief Minister, Paul Everingham, appointed her an advisor on Aboriginal Affairs. Rosalie stood for election to the Northern Territory Legislative Assembly in 1979, in order to fight the proposed construction of a dam which threatened sacred land.

Although not elected, she continued to oppose the dam, which remained a hot issue for another decade. The issue was finally resolved in 1992 when plans for the dam were abandoned.

Rosalie returned to Utopia Station, where she continued to fight for the advancement of her community and her people.