Jenny Wightman

Jenny Wightman has been a supporter of the Sophia Fund for Indigenous Students for many years. The Fund was established to continue the call to action felt through the relationship fostered between early Sophia member, the late Maree Spence, and women from the Ngarrindjeri nation of the lower Murray River, lakes and Coorong in South Australia. Jenny has notified us that she also wishes to leave a bequest to Flinders which will support our future Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander students and further builds on the achievements of the Sophia Fund.

‘I originated the Sophia Fund, inspired by Maree’s stories of the Indigenous women’s courage on the march to Hindmarsh Island protesting about the bridge, as well as my reading about Indigenous history and civilisation. More wonderful books have recently been written by Professor Bill Gammage, The Biggest Estate on Earth, and Bruce Pascoe, Dark Emu. Further research has confirmed the incredible age of this civilisation (at least 65,000 years) and the stability of its culture. When I think how ignorantly and carelessly we destroyed so much when Europeans arrived, and our destruction of the land these people cared for so deeply and knowledgeably, nothing we can do is an adequate response.’

– Jenny Wightman

We feel grateful and humbled that Jenny knows the passion she has shown for Reconciliation will be treasured by Flinders in the future, and that we will one day have the incredible role of growing her already tremendous contribution and legacy.