‘Widely loved’ Stolen Generations survivor honoured in parliament
After enormous upheaval and hardship, Aunty Lindy Lawler has gone on to a life of education and reconciliation, for which she has been recognised
The “extraordinary resilience” of Yuin elder Aunty Lindy Lawler, a survivor of the Stolen Generations, has been recognised in parliament.
“Aunty Lindy is highly respected across the Illawarra,” federal Member for Whitlam Carol Berry said in a community recognition statement in February.
“Aunty Lindy has endured great hardship in her life, enduring emotional turmoil and abuse after she and her twin sister were stolen from their parents when they were only five months old.
"Aunty Lindy and her identical twin sister were born in David Berry Memorial Hospital, at Berry, on the NSW South Coast, in December 1958. In May 1959, their parents were told to take the twins back to the hospital for a check-up, and, when they returned, the girls were gone.
"When they were 18, the sisters were able to meet their mother for the first time.
“Aunty Lindy never got to meet her father."
Today, Aunty Lindy is renowned for her leadership, efforts to promote healing and her incredible community service. She has supported the Illawarra Women’s Health Centre, Illawarra Aboriginal Medical Service, Shellharbour Council, the United Koori Social Club and the Wollongong Cultural Centre.
Whitlam MP Carol Berry with Aunty Lindy Lawler, honoured at the 2025 NAIDOC Awards and 2024 Nanga Mai Awards
Aunty Lindy has helped with lessons in Aboriginal art and weaving workshops at schools including Oak Flats High School, Albion Park High School, Mt Terry Public School and Balarang Public School.
A short film by the NSW Department of Education last year paid tribute to Aunty Lindy, who said she wanted to give students the chance to learn what she could not as a child: Aboriginal culture, history and language.
“She's someone who teaches all of our children about the Country that we're on, about the Dharawal people,” said Balarang principal Tina Duffield. “We'd certainly be lost without her,” said Wade Jenkins, relieving principal at Oak Flats High.
In 2025, Aunty Lindy received an outstanding contribution to reconciliation certificate at the regional NAIDOC Awards. In 2024, at the 19th annual Nanga Mai Awards, she was honoured for outstanding contribution to educational achievement by an Aboriginal community member.
Ms Berry told parliament that Aunty Lindy was a “widely loved and admired” resident of the Whitlam electorate and thanked her for her service.
