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Leonie Joseph says we can do anything by Rhonda Hagan 30 July 2013 Who is your mob? I’m from the Tablelands. My mob are the Yidindji. Where did you grow up? I was born in Innisfail. I went to Mena Creek State School from Years 1 to 7 and then to Innisfail State High School. What did you like about school? I loved learning. I was interested in learning about people. I loved to socialise at school because we lived in a barracks out on a farm so I liked interacting with other people. What did you do after school? I worked at Coles at the checkout for about 4 years. I have 6 children. I had my first child in 1989 and my last child was born in 1999. In 2002 I started working at a school in Bundaberg as a Teacher Aide, doing in-school tuition. I was on the ASSPA Committee. I worked at both primary and high schools. I did 3 years of a Diploma of Education through Catholic University as an external student. That was really good. It was inspiring because we coincided with Business students and all the other Aboriginal communities such as the Northern Territory, Torres Strait Islands, Victoria. I got to find some relatives and build connections. After that I worked as a Lifeline Support Worker where we tried to engage the Indigenous community in to counselling; explaining what
it was about and to empower our women. I did a bit of telephone counselling so that was interesting. I got to develop listening skills and be empathetic. I work in Child Protection so those skills have transferred over. It’s tough area to work in but I’m confident and like my work. What does family mean to you? Family is the biggest part of my heart. I have two girls and four boys aged 13, 16, 18, 20, 22 and 24. What is your favourite movie? I’ve got lots. The last movie I saw was Fast and Furious 6. What do you like to read?
I like reading lots of books. Stuff about history. I like different cultures. I’m reading bits and pieces of celtic history. I like reading things about spirituality. Anything that takes my fancy I love doing research and learning everything I can. Currently I am interested in sovereignty, what is behind it all, and what does it mean to us as Aboriginal people and where it might lead us to in the future. What do you hope for the future of First Nations people? To be more empowered and confident in ourselves. I want us to be able to think we can do anything. Nothing is a barrier. I always tell my children to find something that you love to do.
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