Briggs, Louisa (1836-1925)

Field of activity
Aboriginal spokesperson, Matron, Midwife and Nurse; Indigenous leader; nurse (general)
NLA Persistent Identifier
http://nla.gov.au/nla.party-769092

Biographies

BRIGGS, LOUISA (1836-1925), Aboriginal leader, dormitory matron and nurse, was born on 14 November 1836 on Preservation Island, Bass Strait, daughter of John Strugnell, a sealer, and Mary (Polly) Munro. Strugnell, as a 17-year-old London chimney sweep, had been transported in 1818. Polly was probably the daughter of James Munro, another sealer, and Doog-by-er-um-bor-oke (Margery Munro), a Woirorung woman kidnapped from Port Phillip.

View the full record at Australian Dictionary of Biography Online

Louisa Briggs, of Woiworung descent, was born on Preservation Island, Bass Strait. Around 1853 she and her husband, John, went to the Victorian goldfields. Then they worked as shepherds in the Beaufort district until 1871 when the family was admitted destitute to Coranderrk Aboriginal Station. There Briggs acted as nurse and midwife. In 1876 she was appointed matron and became the first Aboriginal woman to replace a European on salaried staff. She became the spokesperson for the residents and succeeded in securing the reappointment of the popular first manager. She fought the Aborigines Protection Board’s plans to sell Coranderrk and remove residents to other reserves, and gave evidence to the 1876 inquiry but was eventually forced off the reserve and moved to Ebenezer Aboriginal Station. After yet another inquiry in 1881 she moved back to Coranderrk where she was reappointed matron. When her sons were forced off the reserve under the Victorian Aborigines Protection Act 1886, she moved first to Maloga Mission, and in 1889 to Cummeragunja reserve. Late in life she moved to Barmah and finally to Cummeragunja where she died in 1925.

Louisa Briggs was a strong-minded, hard-working woman, a regular church-goer, remembered for her humour, audacity and courage.

View the full record at Australian Women's Register

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  1. Briggs Family Tree
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  2. Louisa
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  3. Louisa Hopwood
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  1. Briggs, Louisa (1836-1925)
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  2. Yungha-dhu
    ... Council. She lives in Menindee in far western New South Wales. Daughter of Jack Kelly and Louisa Kelly ...
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  1. Website: 200 Australian Women
    www.200australianwomen.com
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    • ... Briggs]Louisa Briggs 1836 - 1925 Aboriginal leader Louisa Briggs (1836-1925), Aboriginal leader, was born...
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  2. Website: Australian Women's Archives Project
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  1. The man / Raymond Briggs
    Briggs, Raymond
    Times Educational Supplement
    [ Book, Article, Audio book : 1992-1995 ]
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  2. Myers-Briggs Type Indicator : Australian perspectives : papers selected from those offered for the Myers-Briggs Type Indicator: Australian Perspectives conference / edited by Mary McGuiness, John Izard and Peter McCrossin
    Myers-Briggs Type Indicator: Australian Perspectives Conference Sydney, N.S.W.) (1991 :
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  3. Social security policy : issues & options / edited by Julian Disney and Lynelle Briggs
    Social Security Policy - The Future Australian National University) (1993 :
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  4. The prime minister / Anthony Trollope. ; illustrations by Hector Whistler ; with a preface by L. S. Amery
    Trollope, Anthony, 1815-1882
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  1. Papers of James Minor 1801-1817
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    Languages: ISO 639-2eng
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  2. Utah Humanities Research Foundation
    Utah Humanities Research
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  3. Deved Photograph Collection
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  1. Briggs, Louisa (1836 - 1925)
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  2. The snowman / Raymond Briggs
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    [ Book, Audio book : 1978-2011 ]
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  3. Ethel & Ernest / Raymond Briggs
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  4. The man / Raymond Briggs
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    Times Educational Supplement
    [ Book, Article, Audio book : 1992-1995 ]
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  1. The snowman / Raymond Briggs
    Briggs, Raymond
    [ Book, Audio book : 1978-2011 ]
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    At 70 libraries
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  2. The man / Raymond Briggs
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    Times Educational Supplement
    [ Book, Article, Audio book : 1992-1995 ]
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  3. When the wind blows [Raymond Briggs]
    Briggs, Raymond
    [ Book, Audio book : 1982-2005 ]
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  4. Making money / Terry Pratchett
    Pratchett, Terry
    [ Book, Audio book : 2007-2008 ]
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  1. Family Notices
    Northern Standard (Darwin, NT : 1921 - 1955) Friday 17 January 1947 p 10 Family Notices
    ... Marriage BRIGGS-GOODMAN: January 8th,, at St. Augustine's Church of England, Hamilton, Bris- bane, by Rev. F. ,13. C. Birch, Alexandra Louisa, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. H. G. Sargent, Northern Territory, to Edward S. Briggs, of Newstead, Bris- bane. Return Thonks MRS. QUONG and Family wish to ... 96 words
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  2. COMPANIES REGISTERED
    The Argus (Melbourne, Vic. : 1848 - 1956) Tuesday 28 March 1939 p 9 Article
    ... COMPANIES REGISTERED W. L. L SIDES AND SON PTY LTD boring contractors to acquire the business of W L Sides and Son Capital £10,000. Subscribers: W. L. Sides. T. H. Sides. Sides CORONET HILL PTY LTD - Capital £60 000 Subscribers T Davies Louisa A Davies Thomas K Davies Vera Briggs A C Davies ... 91 words
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  3. Family Notices
    Camperdown Chronicle (Vic. : 1877 - 1954) Thursday 3 November 1927 p 2 Family Notices
    ... DEATHS, BRIGGS.--On the 1st November a?t Meningoort, Camperdown, Ernest Ru eel Briggs, beloved son of Francis Louisa Briggs, and loving brother ofl Bert, W'iliam and Ollie. (Aged, years.) The ... (Thursday) for the Camrero down Cemetery. COLLIE & BRENNA-tN, Undertakers, BRIGGS.- I.O.O.F. CatmperldowYn ... 181 words
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