Uploaded February 2023 | Updated September 2026, 3 weeks ago
Essie Coffey OAM was a community worker, activist and filmmaker. Born Essiena Goodgabah in Goodooga, New South Wales, she was a member of the Muruwari people of north-western NSW and southern Queensland. She lived in Brewarrina, also known as Dodge City, where she raised 18 children with her husband Albert ‘Doc’ Coffey and was affectionately known by the title Bush Queen of Brewarrina. She was co-founder of the Western Aboriginal Legal Service and was an inaugural member of the National Council for Aboriginal Reconciliation. She was the first Aboriginal woman to direct a documentary, with the award-winning MY SURVIVAL AS AN ABORIGINAL in 1978, followed by MY LIFE AS I LIVE IT, in 1993. After refusing an MBE on the grounds that she was not a member of the British Empire, she was awarded an Order of Australia medal in 1985 for services to the Aboriginal community.
We spoke to Coffey's eldest daughter, Sharon Ruby Dykes, about her mother's strength, resilience and legacy.
Essie Coffey's film, MY SURVIVAL AS AN ABORIGINAL, is showing at ACMI as part of the major exhibition, HOW I SEE IT: BLAK ART AND FILM (16 Dec 2022 – 19 Feb 2023)
https://www.acmi.net.au/whats-on/how-i-see-it-blak-art-film/
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Let's talk about the future of screen culture.
ACMI is Australia’s only national museum of film, TV, videogames, digital culture and art. Every donation, large or small, helps us inspire the next generation of storytellers, coders, makers, watchers and players.
DONATE: https://tickets.acmi.net.au/donate/i/23
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Facebook: facebook.com/acmionline
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Essie Coffey OAM was a community worker, activist and filmmaker. Born Essiena Goodgabah in Goodooga, New South Wales, she was a member of the Muruwari people of north-western NSW and southern Queensland. She lived in Brewarrina, also known as Dodge City, where she raised 18 children with her husband Albert ‘Doc’ Coffey and was affectionately known by the title Bush Queen of Brewarrina. She was co-founder of the Western Aboriginal Legal Service and was an inaugural member of the National Council for Aboriginal Reconciliation. She was the first Aboriginal woman to direct a documentary, with the award-winning MY SURVIVAL AS AN ABORIGINAL in 1978, followed by MY LIFE AS I LIVE IT, in 1993. After refusing an MBE on the grounds that she was not a member of the British Empire, she was awarded an Order of Australia medal in 1985 for services to the Aboriginal community.
We spoke to Coffey's eldest daughter, Sharon Ruby Dykes, about her mother's strength, resilience and legacy.
Essie Coffey's film, MY SURVIVAL AS AN ABORIGINAL, is showing at ACMI as part of the major exhibition, HOW I SEE IT: BLAK ART AND FILM (16 Dec 2022 – 19 Feb 2023)
https://www.acmi.net.au/whats-on/how-i-see-it-blak-art-film/
_____________________
Let's talk about the future of screen culture.
ACMI is Australia’s only national museum of film, TV, videogames, digital culture and art. Every donation, large or small, helps us inspire the next generation of storytellers, coders, makers, watchers and players.
DONATE: https://tickets.acmi.net.au/donate/i/23
Follow us
Facebook: facebook.com/acmionline
Instagram: instagram.com/acmionline
Twitter: twitter.com/ACMI
www.acmi.net.au
