Aunty Fran Bodkin

The National NAIDOC Committee are delighted to announce Aunty Fran Bodkin as one of the finalist for the Caring for Country and Culture award. 

Aunty Fran Bodkin, a descendant of the D'harawal peoples of the Bidigal clan, whose ancestry can be traced back to Appin. She is a respected Elder and Knowledge-holder, who has freely shared her knowledges with many Aboriginal and non-Indigenous peoples. With a Bachelor of Arts and a Postgraduate Diploma in Environmental Studies, Aunty Fran's contributions to the understandings of Australian botany, climate, and medicinal plant research have influenced many. 

Her book "Encyclopaedia Botanica" played a crucial role in acknowledging Aboriginal knowledges as a scientific source, which she further reinforced with her book on the “D’harawal Climate and Natural Resources ” and most recently the “Dharawal Pharmacopeia” (which can be freely accessed online at Western Sydney University Library). 

From the 1970s and onwards, Aunty Fran's political advocacy and advice has contributed to the establishment of many Native Gardens, including the Australian Botanic Garden Mount Annan, the Waraburra Nura garden at the University of Technology Sydney, and ‘bush-tucker gardens’ across many primary and secondary schools. Recognized with the Landcare NSW Indigenous Land Management Award in 2019, Aunty Fran is known for her educational achievements and dedication to teaching of the importance of Aborignal Knowledges in environmental conservation. 

A quiet achiever, Aunty Fran's lifelong commitment to her culture, education, and the environment has left a lasting impact on Indigenous communities and the broader society.