By Alex D and Sarah S
 Trugernanner
(Truganini) was born in 1812 and
died in 1876. She was a historical Aboriginal,
born in Van Diemen’s Land and was in the southeastern nation (tribe) in Tasmania, her father
was the tribe leader.
 Truganini’s mother had been killed by sealers,
her uncle shot by soldiers, her sister abducted
by sealers and her ‘fiancé’ murdered by timbergetters.
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Truganini worked hard in the early 1830s to unify what was left
of the indigenous communities of Tasmania. As an intelligent
woman, she worked with the white authorities to protect
Aboriginal survivors of The Black Wars who had been forcibly
removed from their home lands.
In 1830 George Augustus Robinson, was hired to collect the rest
of the indigenous population and he was to settle them on
Flinders Island.
Truganini and her husband, Woorrady, helped Robinson in the
hope that removing them would protect them from further
violence. The shock of resettlement, and unsanitary conditions,
the people were forced to live in proved fatal. The result was
lots of Aboriginal people dying - mainly due to malnutrition and
diseases.
In 1856 there were only a few remaining indigenous survivors in
Tasmania, Truganini among them, who were taken to Oyster Bay.
By 1873, except for Truganini, all of the people taken there had
died. Truganini was the only survivor.
 Before
the Aboriginals moved from Flinders
Island to Oyster Bay, they were moved to
Port Phillip and that was where the most of
the Aboriginals died. When the surviving
Aboriginals moved to Oyster Bay, there were
only 45 Aboriginals left excluding Truganini.
 Truganini
was trying to resist the deaths of
many Aboriginal people.
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She worked very hard and that was important
because she unified what was left of the Indigenous
communities of Tasmania just after the loss of most
of her family.
She worked to protect the other indigenous people
who had survived The Black Wars so they wouldn't be
forced out of their home lands and no more deaths of
the Indigenous people would occur resulting in the
rising population of Aboriginal peoples.
She went with her husband and all of the Aboriginals
who she fought for, to Flinders' Island with G. A.
Robinson (a European who had been hired to start a
settlement within Australia, of the rest Aboriginal
people), hoping to gain a better and protected life
and not be victimised to further violence.
 She
was important because to the rest of the
surviving Aboriginals, she was someone to
look up to and keep them determined to
fight for a better life without discrimination
and belittling of the Indigenous people of
Australia.
 She was important to the rest of the
Tasmanian Aboriginals because she was
sacrificing things of her own for them, the
remaining Aboriginals.
1812-Born in Bruny Island to a tribal elder.
1830-The fighting between the ‘invaders’ and Aboriginals had become
The Black War. The colonial authorities told George Augustus Robinson to
move the Aboriginals to an Island. Truganini went with Robinson hoping it
would stop the killings of the Aboriginal people.
1835-By now, she was used to violent acts committed towards her people.
Her mother, fiancé, and uncle were murdered and her sisters abducted. She
herself was raped.
Between 1830-1834-Truganini met her new husband Wooraddy and they
travelled with Robinson on his “missions”. She acted as a guide and
interpreter and she actually saved Robinson’s life a few times.
Between 1834-1847-The new settlement on Flinders Island was actually a
prison and death trap. Aboriginals started to die because of influenza and
other diseases. When this was happening, Truganini was warning other
Aboriginals not to come and advising them to keep away.
1847-The remaining 45 Aboriginals and herself moved to Oyster Cove. The
conditions were worse.
1873-Truganini was the only one alive now. She managed to find peace
within herself and stay content because she was close to her tribal territory.
1876-She died at the age of 64. She had been living in Hobart in care of a
friend.
1976-Her dying wish was granted-after her remains were cremated, her
ashes were scattered in the waters of her traditional land.
Flinders Island- the new settlement
where the Aboriginals were moved
Where Truganini and the 45 other
remaining Aboriginals were moved to
Truganini’s nation
(birthplace)
George Augustus Robinson
This is a painting of Truganini from Benjamin
Duterrau (a friend of Robinson). He is known for
painting many Aboriginal scenes in Tasmania. This
painting was done in the late 1820’s.
“This special Tasmanian will always be
remembered for her courage and strength
in the face of harsh and brutal times”
(1)
 (1)Truganini,
a significant person in
Aboriginal history. [internet]Available
at:http://www.tasmaniaattractions.com/truganini.html. [Accessed 13
November, 2011]
 Truganini (1812-1876).[internet] Available at:
http://www.womenaustralia.info/biogs/AWE
1098b.htm.[Accessed 13 November,2011]
 Trugernana (Truganini). [internet] Available
at:http://www.brunyislandferry.com/trugani
ni.html . [Accessed 13 November, 2011]