Della Rae Morrison is an Aboriginal actress, songwriter and activist of the Bibulman Noongar people.
The daughter of Patricia Morrison and Eddie Parfitt, she was born in Narrogin, Western Australia and grew up in Albany, Perth and South Hedland. She left school at the age of 14 and began working at a checkout counter to help support her family. She later attended Hedland Business College and began doing office work. She lived in Melbourne and Sydney, later returning to Perth.
Morrison began singing and acting at a young age. She performed in the musical Bran Nue Dae. Morrison appeared in the Australian children's television series Lockie Leonard and has also appeared in various theatre productions and film. She is musical director and co-founder of Madjitil Moorna, a community choir performing in the Nyungar language. Morrison and Jessie Lloyd, vocalists for the award-winning group Djiva, created the Chocolate Martini series of shows for National Indigenous Television.
In 2009, she was one of the founders of the West Australian Nuclear Free Alliance.
She also helped establish a Noongar tent embassy on Heirisson Island in 2012.
At the 2020 Perth Festival she played the title role in Yirra Yaakin Theatre Company's production of Hecate. The performance won her Best Actor (Female) at the Performing Arts WA Awards in 2021.
Awards
WAM Song of the Year
The WAM Song of the Year was formed by the Western Australian Rock Music Industry Association Inc. (WARMIA) in 1985, with its main aim to develop and run annual awards recognising achievements within the music industry in Western Australia.
| Year | Nominee / work | Award | Result (wins only) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2007 | "Moodjebing" (with Jessie Lloyd) | World and Folk Song | Won |
References
- ^ "Morrison, Della Rae". Encyclopedia of Women and Leadership in Twentieth-Century Australia.
- "Leadership". Madjitil Moorna.
- "NAIDOC Week: Noongar choir breaking down barriers to Indigenous language and culture". ABC News. 6 July 2017.
- "Aboriginal duo launch TV show". West Australian. 13 August 2009.
- Gaynor, Andrea; Newman, Peter; Jennings, Philip (2018). Never Again: Reflections on Environmental Responsibility After Roe 8. p. xviii. ISBN 978-1742589725.
- "Western Australia Defending Indigenous Rights Nyoongar Tent Embassy". Sovereign Union. 3 March 2012.
- "Fontaine takes WAM Song of the Year award". FasterLouder.com.au. 1 November 2007. Archived from the original on 24 May 2011. Retrieved 7 April 2009.