Vale Uncle Noel Tovey AM: Indigenous champion of gay rights

Tovey is remembered for his spirit, courage and creativity, and as a courageous elder with a sly wit.

12 Aug 2025 15:42

Richard Watts

A promotional photograph of the late Noel Tovey AM from the 2014 season of 'Little Black Bastard', presented by ILBIJERRI and Arts House. The photo shows an elder but still vigorous Aboriginal man with grey hair; he poses regally and is looking gravely down at the camera.

Performing Arts

A promotional photograph of Noel Tovey AM from the 2014 season of ‘Little Black Bastard’, presented by ILBIJERRI and Arts House. Photo: Steven Rhall.

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander readers are advised that this article contains the name and photographs of a person who has died.

Australia’s first Aboriginal ballet dancer, the author, actor, choreographer, director and gay rights activist Noel Tovey AM, has died aged 90.

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Richard Watts OAM is ArtsHub's National Performing Arts Editor; he also presents the weekly program SmartArts on Three Triple R FM. Richard is a life member of the Melbourne Queer Film Festival, a Melbourne Fringe Festival Living Legend, and was awarded the 2019 Sidney Myer Performing Arts Awards' Facilitator's Prize. In 2021 he received a Lifetime Achievement Award from the Green Room Awards Association. Most recently, Richard received a Medal of the Order of Australia (OAM) in June 2024. Follow him on Twitter: @richardthewatts