Celebrating Aunty Laura Bell

One of our dearest community members Aunty Laura Bell (nee Lovett) aka Mamas entered the Dreamtime on March 2^nd at 89 years young.

She was the mother of nine children - Wayne (dec), Kelvin, Kayleen (dec), Denise, Diane, Michael, Darren (dec), Damein and Shane. Aunty Laura was one of nine children of Mary Murray Rose and Frederick Amos Lovett.

Winda-Mara Board, staff and community send our love and strength to the Bell, Lovett and Rose families and Mamas' extended family and friends.

Born in 1936 at Portland, Aunty Laura lived a full life of 89 years with passion for her family, community and values. A proud Gunditjmara woman dedicated her whole life to progressing Aboriginal Affairs where she was a life member of Victorian Aboriginal Education Association Incorporated (VAEAI), a key contributor to establishing the Winda-Mara and Gunditj Mirring Traditional Owners Aboriginal Corporations, long-term Koori Court Elder, inducted onto the Victorian Honour Roll for Women and the Victorian Aboriginal Honour Roll, and awarded an honorary doctorate by the University of Ballarat to name a few of her many achievements.

She was a committed supporter of the Heywood Football Netball Club and Fitzroy Lions Football Club and was strongly connected to the communities across the state of Victoria.

Aunty Laura was a founding member of Winda-Mara Aboriginal Corporation and played an instrumental role in shaping the strength, vision, and cultural integrity of our organisation. This will be a time of loss and sorrow, but it will also be a time to commemorate an inspirational person. As always, be strong, look out for each other, and continue to take care of yourself and everyone around you in the community.

For more of Aunty Laura's story, visit firstpeoplesrelations.vic.gov.au/laura-bell