Aunty Merle Miller has recieved an OAM for her dedication to First Nations communities.
Photo by
Rechelle Zammit
When Aunty Merle Miller received the email informing her of her nomination for an Order of Australia Medal, she thought it was a scam.
Hold tight - we’re checking permissions before loading more content
Merle showed the email to her daughter, who said it looked like an official email.
The medal was awarded for service to the Indigenous community of Victoria, and it came as a complete surprise to Merle.
“I’m in shock, I get palpitations about it, but it is an honour,” she said.
Merle waited until the day before the deadline to accept the award because she was unsure if she deserved it.
“My kids were giddy, they said ‘well Mum, you do a lot so you deserve it’,” she said.
She decided to accept the award when she realised what it meant for her community.
“If I can do it, they can do it,” Merle said.
“It’s an award for my mob and for my people.”
Aunty Merle is a proud Yorta Yorta woman who has engaged in a wide range of advocacy roles, covering family violence, suicide prevention and cultural inclusion.
She is currently a cross-sector policy officer for the Victorian Aboriginal Education Association, which advises early childhood services on creating culturally inclusive environments.
Merle’s first job was working in childcare, and she credits her sister Esme Bamblett with putting her on the path towards becoming an educator.
“She said ‘I think it’s time for you to move on, you can do more’,” Merle said.
Merle studied with Deakin University in a program designed to get First Nations people into education and she went on to teach at Gowrie Street Primary School from 1994 until 2006.
Merle is an advocate for use of the Yorta Yorta language and has participated in school visits where she was able to teach young kids songs in the language.
She performs Welcome to Country ceremonies in the language, and gave her first one at the unveiling of the mural of Margaret Tucker and Minnie Nora Charles near Maude St Mall by Matt Adnate.
Aunty Merle Miller performed her first Welcome to Country at the unveiling of the mural honouring Margaret Tucker and Minnie Nora Charles.
Photo by
Rechelle Zammit
Working with her deaf granddaughter Pearl, she wrote a book that teaches readers Auslan signs for Yorta Yorta words and phrases.
While Merle admits that reviving the language has a long way to go, she said “it’s more out there now”.
“I would love to see people walking around using Yorta Yorta language,” she said.
Aunty Merle has participated in a number of committees and forums, including the Aboriginal Justice Caucus and Forum, Dhelk-Dja Caucus and Forum, Save the Children’s HIPPY Advisory Group and the Department of Education Respectful Relationships and First Nations Curriculum Truth Telling initiatives.
Merle said the benefits of First Nations advocacy went beyond just her community.
“If you get it right for us, you get it right for everyone,” she said.
Merle is the first person in her family to receive an OAM, and her children and grandchildren are following in her footsteps, doing their own advocacy work around Shepparton and Victoria.
Merle is thankful to her whole family and her sisters Esme Bamblett and Valerie Atkinson for the role they have played in supporting her work.
Aunty Merle is looking forward to having her family with her at Government House to celebrate together when she receives the physical medal.
Aunty Merle Miller produced a trilingual Yorta Yorta, English and Auslan book with her granddaughter Pearl.
Photo by
Rechelle Zammit
10°C