Colless, Daphne Rosina (1928-)

Field of activity
Aboriginal Administrator, Public servant and Aboriginal community worker
NLA Persistent Identifier
http://nla.gov.au/nla.party-725069

Biographies

From working at the meatworks of Qeerah, Queensland, Rose Colless went on to be Queensland Commissioner for Aborigines and manage a centre for the rehabilitation of alcoholics before being presented with an Order of Australia Medal and an Australian human rights award.

Daphne Rosina (Rose) Colless grew up in Ayr and Cairns, Queensland. She was offered a high school church scholarship, but her mother was persuaded by other children’s (non-indigenous) mothers that this would be a waste of time. Rosina left school to do housework for ten shillings a week.

Colless worked at the meatworks at Qeerah from 1961 to 1973, becoming a union delegate before taking the position of Liaison Officer with the Department of Aboriginal and Islander Affairs, and later with the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Legal Service, visiting communities throughout north Queensland. In 1977 she became a Queensland Commissioner for Aborigines and advised the state government on indigenous issues. Her criticism of government actions on Aurukun and Mornington Island led to her losing this job.

In 1974 Colless became a director of Douglas House, a centre for the rehabilitation of alcoholics. In 1978 she became its manager, acquiring a farm on the tablelands and setting up meals in the park for the destitute.

Colless was awarded an Order of Australia Medal in 1984, and in 1987 received an Australian human rights award. She continues to be widely consulted on Aboriginal affairs.

View the full record at Australian Women's Register

Resources for Daphne Rosina Colless

Selected resources (2)

Australian Women's Register

  1. Murawina : Australian women of high achievement
    Roberta Sykes ; photography by Sandy Edwards
    [1993]
    Published: Doubleday
  2. The Encyclopaedia of Aboriginal Australia : Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander history, society and culture
    Horton, David
    [1994]
    Published: Aboriginal Studies Press for AIATSIS

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    Daughter of Julia Pilbeam and Arthur Prider

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  1. Colless, Daphne Rosina (1928-)
    ... with an Order of Australia Medal and an Australian human rights award. Daphne Rosina (Rose) Colless ...
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  1. Family Notices
    The Sydney Morning Herald (NSW : 1842 - 1954) Saturday 29 June 1929 p 14 Family Notices
    ... Albion-street Paddington BOND-In loving memory of my dear wife, Rosina who passed away at Ashley, Lyons-road, ... darling mother Rosina, who passed away Juno 29, 1927. Inserted by her loving children BROMLEY -In ... slstor-ln-law, Ernest and Doris Farrell COLLESS -In loving memory of our dear son and brother Clarence ... 5455 words
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  2. Family Notices
    The Sydney Morning Herald (NSW : 1842 - 1954) Thursday 30 June 1927 p 8 Family Notices
    ...927, at her residence Ashley, Lyons-road, Fivedock, Rosina, beloved wife of Thomas Bond ... COLLESS -In loving memory ol our dear mollie.-, ?ulm died Juno ¡¡0, 102(1 Inserted by her loving «on and daiightirs COLLESS-In lo» inn m« mi ry ol our dear son and lirnllur, Clurence Nepean ... 5435 words
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  3. Family Notices
    The Sydney Morning Herald (NSW : 1842 - 1954) Thursday 5 August 1948 p 12 Family Notices
    ... Chris, and dear brother-ln-low of Hor- ace, Albert, Ethel, Daphne. May. Joe, Eva, Phyllis, Doris, and ... ) and Clarence William See Frldav s Her aid for funeral announcement STEVI-NS Elsie Rosina-August 3 ... Daphne (formerly of the 1st Field Cadre R A A ) aged 60 years Rcqulescat in pace ,"?"?*** EmU* ... 9382 words
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