Yorta Yorta and Dja Dja Wurrung elder Aunty Fay Carter has passed away aged 89.

A descendent of Dja Dja Wurrung Ancestor Henry Harmony Nelson, Aunty Fay devoted her life to advocating for the Indigenous community, and serving with NAIDOC, the Victorian Aboriginal Child Care Agency (VACCA), and the Aborigines Advancement League (AAL).

Dja Dja Wurrung Clans Aboriginal Corporation (Djaara) said Aunty Fay "contributed immensely to the self-determination of Dja Dja Wurrung People through our Recognition and Settlement Agreement journey over more than 15 years".

"Aunty's ongoing commitment to realising our Dhelkunya Dja (Healing Country) Plan goals continued until her passing."

Born on Yorta Yorta country in 1935, Aunty Fay revealed to the Yoorrook Justice Commission her mother's medical problems, and how she was forced to give birth on the Echuca Hospital verandah due to Aboriginal women not being permitted in the maternity ward at the time.

She lived on the Cummeragunja Mission in NSW until she was four, when her family took part in the walk-off protest against its mismanagement.

They settled along the Goulburn River, outside Mooroopna, with other families who left the mission.

"Most people know where the flats are just outside Mooroopna, not far from Shepparton, and they built their homes there out of bags, kerosene tins, went to the tip over the highway to scrounge for furniture and all sorts of things to make the homes," Aunty Fay said in a video for the Victorian Aboriginal Child Care Agency for NAIDOC week in 2021.

"And they were homes - they were comfortable, warm, loving homes."

She said at the time: "Everybody loved and nurtured you."

"My grandmother raised nineteen children on that riverbank, to keep them away from welfare," Aunty Fay said.

"And mothers and fathers and younger Aunties and Uncles, they were out picking fruit out on the tomato patches trying to make a living. Coming off the mission where they were taught to be welfare recipients and they had to find ways to survive, that was one way they were able to make some money to survive."

Aunty Fay married Leslie Carter at age 18, and had two children, Wendy and Rodney.

Advocating for Indigenous people's needs, she moved to Naarm in 1972, and a year later began working as a field office for the AAL, before working as an Aboriginal liaison officer for the Victorian Department of Social Security, and then back to the AAL in in 1987 as a Community Development and Welfare Program coordinator.

"Aunty Fay always strived for the best outcomes for Aboriginal People, whether she was volunteering to progress self-determination of her People, working for government, or for the community-run organisations she served," Djaara said.

"Many have lived healthier and more prosperous lives as a result of her commitment."

For 16 years, Aunty Fay was a member of the Victorian branch of NAIDOC, including five years as president and three as treasurer.

She helped establish the Aboriginal Community Elders Services (ACES) in East Brunswick in 1992 - the first Aboriginal-managed community corporation in the country to provide culturally appropriate and relevant aged care service.

Aunty Fay also spent 11 years on the board of VACCA, 10 of those as chair.

"For over 50 years, Aunty Fay dedicated herself to her Dja Dja Wurrung and Yorta Yorta People and all Victorian Aboriginal communities. In the proud tradition of self-determination, her work has helped strengthen families, reform welfare programs, and set the standard for Aboriginal aged-care services," Djaara said.

Aunty Fay advocated tirelessly for reconnection to Country, as well as self-determination.

Writing in the Djaara family book, she argued: "When you look at the policies they've put in place over the years to try make us go away, I think it must have really annoyed and amazed them that we're still here!"

"Like removing our children, or trying to breed out our colour, or sending our men away from the missions and trying to split up the family units that way. So many things they've done to try and make us go away. It must be a very sore point! Because there's one thing for sure, we'll never go away. We will never go away."

Premier Jacinta Allan said Victoria wouldn't be the same without Aunty Fay.

"There are so many words to describe the amazing Aunty Fay Carter: Tireless. Grounded. Passionate. Determined," the Premier said.

"But to me, the word that epitomises Aunty Fay is generosity. She was so overwhelmingly generous – with her time, her wisdom and her work."

Of Aunty Fay's work at VACCA, Ms Allan said: "She helped implement the Aboriginal Child Placement Principle, ensuring Aboriginal children remain connected to their family, culture and community."

"Even in her so-called 'retirement', Aunty Fay never wavered. In her late 70s, she was part of the 18 months of intense negotiations to achieve a landmark native title settlement, formally recognising the Dja Dja Wurrung People as the Traditional Owners of these land."

That settlement included the handing back of more than 266,000 hectares of Crown land to the traditional owners.

"Anyone who lives here knows just how lucky we are. To be able to learn and share in the history of this Country – we are indebted to Aunty Fay, and those like her," the Premier said.

Aunty Fay was awarded the Centenary Medal in 2001, inducted onto the Victorian Honour Roll of Women in 2004 and the Victorian Aboriginal Honour Roll in 2013.

In 2019, she received the Order of Australia for her commitment to the development and implementation of culturally relevant programs for Indigenous people.

She is fondly known by many as Guka (meaning grandmother) and is survived by her children, Rodney and Wendy, and grandchildren, Drew, Joshua, Natasha, Neane, Rodney Jnr and James.