Changing Australia: Di Ryder and supporting Indigenous veterans and reconciliation
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Di Ryder, a Noongar Elder and former Australian Army Staff Sergeant, shares her powerful journey of service, resilience, and advocacy on Radio National Breakfast's 'Changing Australia' segment. Having joined the Army in the 1970s as one of the few Indigenous women, she recounts the culture shock of military life, the lack of representation, and the quiet racism she faced later in her career. Despite these challenges, she built a 20-year career marked by determination and leadership. Her recent recognition at an Anzac Day service in Perth—where she delivered a welcome to country to a chorus of boos—sparked national attention, yet she found strength in the overwhelming support from the RSLWA State President and the audience’s subsequent applause. Di reflects on the importance of acknowledging traditional custodians at national ceremonies and her lifelong mission to support Indigenous veterans through the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Veterans and Services Association. She emphasizes the healing power of community, family, and recognition, drawing from her upbringing as one of 11 children and her parents’ enduring legacy. Her accolades, including the WA Women's Hall of Fame induction and National NAIDOC Lifetime Achievement Award, are not just personal triumphs but symbols of broader progress in reconciliation and Indigenous representation in Australia’s military history.
Acknowledging traditional owners at Anzac Day is a vital act of respect and reconciliation, not a political statement.
Indigenous veterans have long been underrepresented and under-recognized; advocacy organizations like the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Veterans and Services Association are critical for healing and support.
Personal resilience, family support, and community connection are foundational to overcoming systemic barriers in military and civilian life.
Leadership by Indigenous women in public and ceremonial roles challenges outdated narratives and inspires future generations.
Recognition through awards and honors should be seen as collective achievements that honor the strength of families and communities.
Anzac Day Controversy in Perth
“It was disgusting and disrespectful according to WA Premier Roger Cook especially for a woman who spent years advocating for Indigenous veterans and their families.”
Di Ryder’s Military Journey
Di recounts her entry into the Army in the 1970s as a young woman from a disadvantaged background, describing the culture shock, resilience required, and the lack of Indigenous representation during her early service years.
Racism, Representation, and Resilience
Di reflects on the subtle and overt racism she experienced in the 1980s, the rarity of Indigenous soldiers in her early years, and how support systems helped her persevere, ultimately becoming a role model for future generations.
Advocacy and Legacy
“For me, that was the best thing. I wanted them to be proud of what I was doing and what I had achieved.”
“For me, that was the best thing. I wanted them to be proud of what I was doing and what I had achieved.”
“It was disgusting and disrespectful according to WA Premier Roger Cook especially for a woman who spent years advocating for Indigenous veterans and their families.”
“You know what I did? I actually learnt that I was resilient and I could do this and I think that was the biggest thing that it gave me the self-confidence to know that I could go further in the Army.”
Host
Guest
Di Ryder
person
Army
organization
Mum
person
Anzac Day
other
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Veterans and Services Association
organization
Dad
person
RSLWA
organization
Noongar Elder
other
WA Women's Hall of Fame
other
Duncan Anderson
person
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