Rhoda RobertsRhoda Roberts AO, a revered figure in world of Australian theatre and arts, has passed away at the age of 66.
News of Roberts’ passing was confirmed in a statement shared by her family on social media this afternoon.
“The Roberts-Field family are heartbroken to announce that our beautiful Rhoda Roberts has returned to the Dreaming on Saturday, March 21 at 1:00pm,'“ the statement read. “She passed peacefully in hospital after a 7 month fight with a very rare type of ovarian cancer.”
It continued:
Rhoda will be deeply missed by all whose hearts she touched, she was an incredible person in so many ways. Words fail to capture the true love, depth, intelligence and warmth that was our beloved Rhoda. She dedicated her life to culture, country and people from all walks of life. She never judged and never discriminated, she always wanted to help uplift people’s lives and provide love and care. She faced so much trauma in her life, but continued fighting and never gave up. Her strength, dedication and pure love will forever be remembered. She helped make incredible, positive change for so many and for this Country.
“She will be so deeply missed, no one compared to our Rhoda and there will never be another like her,” the statement concluded.
“We will share details regarding her celebration of life when they are finalized. At this time our family asks for understanding and privacy as we navigate this grief and celebrate the life of a woman who lived with joy, warmth, intensity, creativity, imagination and heart.”
A Widjabul Wiyabal woman from the Bundjalung territories, Roberts was was born in Sydney in 1959, though grew up in Lismore. Dissuaded from pursuing a career in journalism, she graduated as a registered nurse in Sydney, before moving to England for work in the' ‘80s, and eventually returning to Sydney where she studied a diploma in the performing arts.
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In 1989, Roberts became the first Indigenous presenter on prime-time television when she hosted the SBS’ First In Line, later working as a presenter and journalist on their Vox Populi current affairs program. Her broadcasting career also included a role as a producer for Vibe Australia, where she hosted the weekly Deadly Sounds radio program from 1993 until 2014.
Co-founding the Aboriginal National Theatre Trust in 1988, Roberts was a revered name in the world of Australian arts and culture, performing a number of stage productions over the years, including her own productions, such as Please Explain, Yarrabah The Musical, and 2024's My Cousin Frank, a one-woman show which focused on her cousin, Olympian Frank Roberts.
In 1994, Roberts co-founded the long-running Festival Of The Dreaming, which held its first event in 1997, and saw her serve as Director until 2009. In 1995, she was appointed as the Indigenous Cultural Advisor of the 2000 Sydney Olympic Games, and in 2004, she began a five-year stint as a Programmer for the Woodford Folk Festival
In 2008, Roberts was named Creative Director for the Sydney New Year’s Eve celebration – a role she held until 2011, and the following year, she took on the newly-created role of Head Of Indigenous Programming at the Sydney Opera House.
In recent years, Roberts was also added to the MusicNSW board, and was announced as a member of the inaugural First Nations Board for the arts. Additionally, Roberts has previously been cited as the originator of the term Welcome To Country, which has increasingly become a part of many events since the ‘80s.
