Aunty Fay was a trailblazer for Aboriginal advocacy, working with governments and organisations in family, welfare, aged care, and cultural services for First Nations people.
She was born on the verandah of Echuca Hospital in 1935 as her mother Iris Nelson was barred from entering the hospital as an Indigenous person, a rule that continued until the 1970s.
Like many Aboriginal people in the region, Aunty Fay spent the first years of her life at Cummeragunja Station Mission in New South Wales, over the Murray River from Barmah.
In February 1939, following numerous deaths due to minimal rations and poor conditions, Aunty Fay’s family was among around 200 residents who participated in the Cummeragunja Walk-Off.
This event was one of the first mass protests of Indigenous Australians, and paved the way for later walk-offs, and action for land rights.
Aunty Fay’s family, like many from Cummeragunja, settled in Mooropna, in an area called The Flats. Despite living on the fringes in makeshift dwellings, residents were resourceful and Aunty Fay looked back on her time there with love.
Her experience contributed to the 2014 documentary, The Flats, based on a book by Yorta Yorta and Wurundjeri Elder, activist and academic Dr Aunty Lois Peeler AM.
After marrying Leslie Carter in 1954 and having two children, Wendy and Rodney, Aunty Fay went on to work in Aboriginal advocacy roles.
She worked as a field officer and later a community development and welfare program coordinator in the Aborigines Advancement League, and as an Aboriginal liaison officer for the Victorian Department of Social Security.
Aunty Fay also did significant work establishing the Aboriginal Community Elders Service, advocating for culturally-safe aged care facilities. She managed the service for more than 16 years.
Much of Aunty Fay’s work was centred around care for women and children, creating the first Aboriginal women’s refuge and serving as chair for the Victorian Child Care Agency.
Aunty Fay contributed to a range of programs, committees and boards dedicated towards the betterment of First Nations people, often as president, treasurer or manager.
These included NAIDOC, the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Commission, the Aboriginal Family Decision Making Program, and the 2013 Dja Dja Wurrung native title settlement, which handed over 266,000 hectares of land back to Community.
She also played a significant role in the establishment of the Yoorrook Justice Commission, and was one of the first Elders to contribute to its 2022 public hearings as a witness.
Among her accolades is the Centenary Medal, the Victorian Honour Roll of Women in 2004, the Victorian Aboriginal Honour Roll in 2013, and the Medal of the Order of Australia in 2019.
In a statement, Premier of Victoria Jacinta Allen paid tribute to Aunty Fay’s legacy and contribution to the state of Victoria.
“There are so many words to describe the amazing Aunty Fay Carter: Tireless, grounded, passionate, determined,” she said
“But to me, the word that epitomises Aunty Fay is generosity. She was so overwhelmingly generous — with her time, her wisdom and her work.
“And we just wouldn’t have the Victoria we do, without her.”
Aunty Fay is survived by her children Wendy and Rodney, and her grandchildren Drew, Joshua, Natasha, Neane, Rodney Jnr and James.
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