To coincide with the close of National Reconciliation Week 2025, a landmark exhibition honouring one of Australia's most celebrated Aboriginal leaders, the late Dr Lowitja O'Donoghue, will open next week on Wednesday June 4 at the Kerry Packer Civic Gallery, The Bob Hawke Prime Ministerial Centre, University of South Australia.

The exhibition, titled LOWITJA - A Life of Leadership and Legacy, will run through to July 25 and features never-before-seen images, video, memorabilia and personal correspondence drawn from the late Dr O'Donoghue's extensive archive.

Presented in partnership by The Bob Hawke Prime Ministerial Centre, the Lowitja O'Donoghue Foundation and Lowitja Institute, the exhibition reflects the extraordinary life and enduring national influence of the Yankunytjatjara woman whom woman many regard as the greatest Aboriginal leader of the modern era.

Timed one day after National Reconciliation Week ends (May 27 - June 3), and ahead of NAIDOC Week 2025 (July 6 - 13), the exhibition provides an opportunity for schools, organisations, and the wider public to reflect, learn and celebrate a life lived in service of justice, health and human rights.

Curated by Lowitja's niece and Foundation Head, Deb Edwards, the exhibition reveals an intimate and powerful view of Dr O'Donoghue's journey, from her early years as a Stolen Generations child through to her achievements as a trailblazer in health and Indigenous affairs. Items on display include rare footage, historical documents, unique personal tokens and personally signed memorabilia from global figures such as Paul Keating, Martin Luther King III and Cathy Freeman.

Highlights include early photographs of Lowitja as a young woman and with family; photos and certificates from during her pioneering nursing career at the Royal Adelaide Hospital, on the APY Lands and in India; footage and images from milestone moments such as her leadership at ATSIC, involvement in the Native Title legislation negotiations and her major role at the 2000 Sydney Olympics; and vision from speeches and interviews that defined her public voice.

Lowitja - A Life Of Leadership and Legacy is also proudly supported by new partners Adelaide Airport and The Healing Foundation.

The Healing Foundation is the national body that supports Stolen Generations survivors — the tens of thousands of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander babies and children taken from loving family, community, culture and Country from the mid-1800s until the 1980s in Australia.

The Healing Foundation also support Stolen Generations organisations that tirelessly support survivors on the ground. It was established in response to the Bringing them home report published in 1997. Dr O'Donoghue was a fundamental advocate and supporter of this vital work.

To enhance visits, guided group tours are available on select dates, presented by Exhibition Curator and Head of Lowitja O'Donoghue Foundation, Deb Edwards. This opportunity offers a deeper insight into an extraordinary life dedicated to advancing the rights and wellbeing of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples, and also a personal perspective.

Ms Edwards said it "is the greatest honour and privilege to access the personal collection of historic memorabilia and archives belonging to my Aunt, Yankunytjatjara woman, the late Dr Lowitja O'Donoghue AC CBE DSG".

"As Curator of LOWITJA - A Life of Leadership and Legacy, the wealth of incredible material to choose from for this inaugural exhibition, demonstrates the depth and richness of her extraordinary life," she said.

"We warmly welcome you and look forward to remembering and celebrating the legacy of Dr O'Donoghue here on Kaurna Country in her home state of South Australia."

The exhibition provides an enriching educational excursion for school groups, offering students an introduction to the life and legacy of one of Australia's most influential Aboriginal leaders. Through storytelling, historical artefacts, and multimedia displays, students will gain a deeper understanding of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander histories, cultures, and the ongoing journey toward justice and equity.

Bob Hawke Prime Ministerial Centre Executive Director and Events and Exhibitions Producer, Jacinta Thompson, said the Centre is honoured to present LOWITJA - A Life of Leadership and Legacy, celebrating Dr Lowitja O'Donoghue AC CBE DSG, "whose unwavering advocacy for justice, health and equality helped transform our nation".

"This exhibition holds special meaning for The Bob Hawke Prime Ministerial Centre, recognising Lowitja's enduring connection to the late Honourable Bob Hawke AC and as a past Hawke Centre Patron. We invite you to reflect on her legacy," she said.