Lionel Fogarty
A Yugambeh man, born on Wakka Wakka land at Barambah, Lionel Fogarty is celebrated Indigenous writer who has been actively involved in Aboriginal politics through various organisations including the Aboriginal Legal Service, Aboriginal Housing Services and Murrie Coo-ee.
Lionel began writing poetry out of a belief that land-rights are the basis of Aboriginal people's hope for a future. To express his beliefs and pass on his knowledge Lionel created “Kargun”, which was published in 1980. Lionel then continued to publish a further 6 publications.
Lionel's drawings are also unique as they infuse 20th century avant-garde elements and Indigenous Australian symbolism, producing spirit figures of a futuristic dreaming that compliment the poet's call for a powerful and independent Indigenous identity. Lionel travels have included performances at the United Nations in New York, 2nd International Treaty Conference in Sioux City, South Dakota, the International Poetry Festival in Columbia and extensive travel around Australia for local Aboriginal communities and local festivals.
He also has poems published in several languages including Spanish, French, German and Dutch.Lionel has been nominated for the Banjo Patterson Poetry Award, the Inaugural Poet Union of Australia and short-listed for the Children’s Book of the Year Award. The Australia Council, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander arts board supported Lionel with funding grants in 1987 and 1991 for writing and development.
In 2003 Lionel was a recipient of an Australia Council, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander arts fellowship. The fellowship enabled him to undertake research in Cherbourg, Brisbane and Woorabinda to produce two book manuscripts.