94 new entries for people who died in 1993 were added to Australian Dictionary of Biography website today. Troy Lovegrove (1986-1993) and Eve van Grafhorst (1982- 1993) are, by far, the youngest of ‘1993ers’. HIV-AIDS child sufferers, they spent their short lives working against the stigmatization of those with the disease. A group of subjects who lived long lives, beginning in the 19thth century, include Aboriginal community worker Olga Fudge (1896-1993), businessman and sportsman Keith Barker (1898-1993), potter and advocate of Aboriginal spirituality Bill Ricketts (1898-1993) and artist Sali Herman (1898-1993).
Some lives were full of repute. New Zealand-born 1990 Australian of the Year Fred Hollows (1929-1993) established the National Trachoma and Eye Health program in 1975. Black rights activist, poet, environmentalist, and educator Oodgeroo Noonuccal (Kath Walker) (1920-1993) returned to her birthplace in her 50s to teach Aboriginal culture to children. Australian history might have taken a different course if Paul Hasluck (1905-1993) had accepted the offer of a second term as Governor-General in 1974.
Some lives, like Albert Jennings (1896-1993) were entrepreneurial. Not only did he build swathes of houses but sometimes whole towns. Others died poor, like charity worker Louisa Toogood (1903-1993) whose headstone notes she was the founder of the charity, the Ecumenical Coffee Brigade, whose volunteers tended to needy men and women. And, as in any group of ADB entries, a number of entries are on subjects notable for their spectacular fall from grace such as magistrate Murray Farquhar (1918-1993).