Vale Thelma Weston
The members of the ACT Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Elected Body were saddened to hear of the passing of Thelma Weston, a well respected community leader.
We would like to pass our condolences on to her family and friends at this sad time.
Aunty Thelma was a descendant of the Meriam people of the Torres Strait, and was a very well respected Elder in the ACT community where she lived for many years.
In 2019 she was awarded the National Female Elder of the Year at the National NAIDOC Awards in recognition of her lifelong commitment to improving health outcomes for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people. She was a trained nurse and became a fully qualified health worker – despite limited access to formal education in her early years.
Aunty Thelma served the ACT community for more than a decade working at Winnunga Nimmityjah Aboriginal Health and Community Services using her skills to manage the needle exchange program.
She has a long history of outstanding involvement and achievements in the community and has sat on a number of local and national committees and boards.
As a breast cancer survivor, Aunty Thelma worked with Breast Cancer Network Australia to encourage other Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander women to connect, seek support and information about the disease.
Aunty Thelma was a recognised leader in health, strong Torres Strait Islander woman, and importantly, a friend to many. Her loss is profound. Vale Aunty Thelma Weston.
