Elder Eatts inducted

The Koondoola resident and Whudjuk Ballardong elder co-founded Aboriginal Urban Services and recently wrote a book Our Country, My Nyungah Home.

Mrs Eatts is a member of many committees, including Joondalup's Yellagoongah House, and has worked on Koombah-Jenn personal development programs to improve literacy and numeracy, self-esteem and personal skills for Aboriginal youth.

Her community work was recognised recently when she was inducted into the WA Women's Hall of Fame.

It follows several Naidoc awards and receiving the Torch-Bearer Medallion in 2011 which recognised 40 years of "creating harmony within the northern suburbs among People of all Nationalities".

"I've done a lot of work in the northern suburbs; I've lived here for about 52 years," she said.

"I started to foster children and I have also taken children out in holiday times that didn't know where to go from the Department of Community Welfare. Then we started taking children from low-income families out on excursions through the holidays."

Mrs Eatts, who founded Aboriginal Urban Services with her husband Walter (Wally), has been vice-chairperson since 1987.

She worked with the State Government for 12 years on programs for young Aboriginal offenders and families.

"Wally would take the boys doing lawn-mowing and cleaning in the morning and rubbish removal and Id do their morning tea and lunch," she said.

"In the afternoon we'd talk about our culture, self esteem and motivation.

"We always had a heart for children."

She said some of those who took part in their programs had since approached them to let them know how they were.

"That's the loveliest part of it, we walked down the street and a fella said "you know me?" he introduced his wife and his three little children. We were so thrilled," she said.

"And then Wally and I went to the circus and there was another fella there and I said "I thought it was you" and he said "I never forgot what you told me" I did that and I met a nice girl, settled down and have beautiful children now."

She said throughout her work in the northern suburbs she had met "a lot of good people from all walks of life and of all nationalities".

"When you step out doing good things you find all the good people," she said.

The 2015 inductees were announced and presented with a commemorative pin by Women's Interests Minister Liza Harvey.