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Protected: Hyllus Noel Maris nee Briggs

1933-1986

Aboriginal Rights Campaigner and Community Leader, Writer, Poet, Philosopher, Educator and Activist and Founder of Victoria’s only Aboriginal-owned School

“I am a child of the Dreamtime People, part of this land, like the gnarled gumtree. I am the river, softly singing, chanting our songs on my way to the sea.”- Hyllus Maris  [1] 

Hyllus Noel Maris was a visionary leader with ancestral connections to Yorta Yorta and Wiradjuri through her mother, Geraldine Briggs AO, and Wurundjeri and Yorta Yorta through her father Selwyn Briggs. Hyllus was a key figure in the Aboriginal rights movement and passionately believed in the power of education to drive lasting change.

During Hyllus’ upbringing racism and segregation was deeply embedded in government policies and institutions including public schools. The lived experience of Hyllus and her family fueled a deep determination to improve conditions for future generations.  Hyllus’ vision was to create a place where Aboriginal youth could receive a holistic education incorporating Aboriginal culture, health and wellbeing. One of her greatest achievements was founding Worawa Aboriginal College, Victoria’s first and only Aboriginal-owned school.  

Early Life and Influences

Hyllus grew up on the Cummeragunja Aboriginal Reserve. Deteriorating conditions and the loss of two children provided a catalyst for the family to leave the reserve and settle on the riverbanks of Mooroopna/Shepparton. Her grandmother, Yarmuk (Theresa Clements) was a strong influence on Hyllus relaying to her the ‘Aboriginal experience’.

Hyllus was the namesake of her father’s sister Hyllus Briggs, who in the 1930’s was an executive member of the Australian Aborigines’ League and played an important role in the 1939 Cummeragunja Walk-off. She conducted a school program on the riverbank for the children not permitted in government schools.

Hyllus was inspired by the activism of family members and immersed herself in the National Council of Aboriginal and Island Women [NCAIW].  She was instrumental in the establishment of Aboriginal community-controlled organisations to improve access to health and legal services to the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander community. Hyllus was inaugural Chair of the first Aboriginal Advisory Council in Victoria, established by Premier John Cain. 

Educational Journey

Hyllus won a Commonwealth Government scholarship to study Social Action overseas. In London she studied at the ‘Centre for Rights and Responsibilities’. She travelled to America where she met with leaders of the Hopi people in an Indigenous Education information exchange. Worawa was Hyllus’s main focus until her death. There were, however, other major contributions including the very successful “Women of the Sun” both screenplay and adapted as a novel which became a long-standing part of the Victorian school curriculum. 

Transforming Aboriginal Education

Returning to Australia, Hyllus established the Green Hills Foundation for Aboriginal education, which provided scholarships for Aboriginal children to attend prominent schools in Melbourne.[2]  In 1983 she founded Worawa Aboriginal College. The name ‘Worawa’ was chosen with the guidance of Aboriginal Elders who collaborated with Hyllus on the college’s cultural program. The eagle, a powerful symbol in Aboriginal culture, represented the immense potential Hyllus saw in Aboriginal children. [3] 

Artistic Advocacy

Hyllus was a gifted playwright and poet, renowned for her evocative works that reflected her profound connection to her people and Country as well as the effects of dispossession, dislocation and displacement from Country.  Her collaboration with Sonia Borg on the award winning television series Women of the Sun highlighted the resilience and struggles of Aboriginal women over two centuries of colonisation. The series earned widespread acclaim, including the United Nations Association Media Peace Award and the Banff Television Festival Award. 

Reflecting on the Women of the Sun series,  Hyllus said:

 ‘We had the story and the history of the people. I just looked back at what happened on Cummeragunja and other Aboriginal Reserves and missions where women had to take leadership roles… Our women were becoming more outspoken politically … Because of the necessity of the whole thing, the need of the people and the need of the families they had to take on this role of leadership. Some of those women came from not only Victoria but other states and they were – or perhaps their mother was Tribal, like my own Grandmother … I just put all those stories together, but it was mainly based on what happened at Cummeragunja.” [4] 

Her poetry, including the evocative “Spiritual Song of the Aborigine,” and her short stories such as “Concrete Box,” “Joey Comes to the City,” and “The Way Forgotten,” resonate with the rhythms of her heritage and the spirit of her land.

Championing Aboriginal Rights: Leadership in Legal, Cultural, and Health Initiatives

Hyllus Noel Maris was a key figure in the Aboriginal rights movement during the 1970s and 1980s. In Melbourne,  she played a crucial role in founding the Aboriginal Legal Service and Cultural Heritage Council in 1973 and the Victorian Aboriginal Health Service, while also supporting similar efforts in Queensland. As chair of the Victorian Council for Aboriginal Culture, she was instrumental in organising some of the earliest Aboriginal art exhibitions in the state.”

A Lasting Legacy: Empowering Future Generations through Education and Culture

Hyllus passed away in 1986 after a courageous battle with cancer. Hyllus was inducted posthumously to the Victorian Honour Roll of Women in 2001. Her legacy endures through her pioneering work at Worawa Aboriginal College, her artistic contributions, and her unwavering commitment to preserving Aboriginal culture and advocating for her people.

Today, Worawa, Australia’s only boarding school for Aboriginal girls, continues to thrive. It serves students from Aboriginal communities across Australia, who bear the brunt of past government policies that denied education to Aboriginal children beyond Grade 3. For many Worawa students they are First in Family to achieve twelve years of education.  Worawa remains an enduring reflection of Hyllus’s vision and dedication, empowering future generations.

This Biography was written by Her Place Women’s Museum in collaboration with Dr Lois Peeler AM, Hyllus’ sister and former Principal of Worawa Aboriginal College.

Commemoration: The Worawa Dreaming Trail and History Walk

Please note that this cultural site is only accessible to visitors by booking a guided cultural tour.

Worawa Dreaming Trail – A Journey Through History and Culture

Located at Worawa Aboriginal College in Healesville, Victoria, The Dreaming Trail is an educational and commemorative space celebrating aspects of Aboriginal heritage and resilience. The Dreaming Trail illuminates Aboriginal science in the use of plants for food, medicine and  craft as well as Aboriginal technology through reconstructed archaeological sites creating an immersive experience that deepens visitors’ understanding of Aboriginal culture.

The adjacent  History Walk honours 21 Aboriginal Change Makers who have significantly impacted community development in fields such as activism, academia, arts, and sports.  The History Walk serves as a timeline of Aboriginal history, highlighting key moments and personal stories that have shaped the journey toward self-determination.

  **** Advance bookings for a guided tour are essential.

 Visitors without bookings are not permitted to enter college grounds.

To experience the Dreaming Trail, visitors should book through Worawa’s website to gain insights from knowledgeable guides and support the college’s ongoing educational and community initiatives.

To book a tour contact www.worawa.vic.edu.au

Further Resources:

Online Resources

Poetry

Book

Film

Footnotes

[1] Worawa Aboriginal College. (n.d.). Hyllus Maris. Worawa Aboriginal College – Our Story Hyllus Maris

[2]  ibid

[3]  Briggs, H. (2024, August 23) Hyllus Briggs – Founder of Worawa on Vimeo

[4]  First Peoples Relations Victoria. (n.d.). Hyllus Maris. Retrieved September 2, 2024