Lynette Riley AO has been promoted to professor at the University of Sydney, becoming the first Indigenous academic hold that position in the University's School of Education and Social Work.
It is the latest of many achievements in the Wiradjuri and Gamilaroi woman's career, going from the first in her family to complete high school and attend university, to school teacher, to excelling in higher education from TAFE to the University of Sydney.
"This is for Dad. My parents only went to school until Year Three. In their era, the government had 'scientific' research to prove that Aboriginal people were incapable of undertaking higher forms of education," Professor Riley said.
"They only received enough education believed to be sufficient to be good servants or labourers for non-Indigenous Australians. The Aboriginal curriculum focused on manual work. But Dad wanted more for us kids."
She said her father was always of the opinion they would go through school and get a high school graduation certificate.
"Our doing it proved that he could have done it if he'd been given the same opportunities. I know he would be proud," Professor Riley said.
The University of Sydney said Professor Riley also believed she may be the first person from western New South Wales to be promoted to professor.
"For many Aboriginal people, we're still making history with firsts," she said.
"In a lot of communities, people are the first to complete school, go to TAFE or university. My community is so excited; they want to throw a mayoral reception for me."
Raised in Dubbo, where her parents were forced to get a Certificate of Exemption for her to go to public school, Professor Riley eventually trained to be a primary and infant school teacher before she was asked to join the first Aboriginal Unit in the Department of Education in 1981.
She helped develop adult Aboriginal programs that were picked up by TAFE before setting up Oorala Aboriginal Centre and Aboriginal Studies at University of New England in 1986, and then briefly going back as a primary school teacher, which she described as the "hardest job" she has ever had.
Professor Riley was then campus manager at Dubbo TAFE, before working as State Director for Aboriginal Education for several years in the Department of Education and then finally moving to the University of Sydney.
"Every job I've had has been about creating something that didn't exist before. I like getting things done. I'm more of a behind-the-scenes person, making things happen," she said.
Professor Riley is Chair of Aboriginal Education and Indigenous Studies in the School of Education and Social Work at the University, as well as a researcher in Indigenous rights, education, racism, and wellbeing.
Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Indigenous Strategy and Services), Professor Lisa Jackson Pulver, said Professor Riley was an inspiration.
"Lyn Riley is an astounding academic, who has provisioned quality guidance and support for countless Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander staff and students in the academy," Professor Pulver said.
"She is an inspiration to us all."
In 2016, when her close friend and first Indigenous woman elected to the House of Representatives, Linda Burney, was sworn in, Professor Riley sang in parliament.
This year, when Ms Burney stood down, it was Professor Riley's daughter, Garigarra, who performed an emotional farewell.
Having raised seven children (four of her own) and with 14 grandchildren, Professor Riley has dealt with adversity, and is a survivor of multiple bouts of breast cancer.
She said she was overcome with emotion when she became a professor, especially as her parents before her were unable to gain an education.
"I thought, 'There you go, Dad, I did it. There's your proof'," she said.
