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TRANSCRIPT:
One of Australia's greatest cultural trailblazers, laid to rest on her ancestral country.
Elder, cultural leader and storyteller, Aunty Rhoda Roberts died at the age of 66 after a battle with cancer.
Gathering at St Carthage's Cathedral in Lismore, guests from across the country came together to celebrate her life and legacy.
"To spend a moment with Rhoda felt like the greatest gift. She was our mother, but she wasn't only ours. She was a mother to so many."
Her daughter, Sarah Roberts-Field, paying tribute to the Widjabul Wieybal woman alongside family and friends.
Honouring her role in transforming how Australia sees and celebrates First Nations culture, Ms Roberts's aunty Lola Roberts says she paved the way for generations.
"She took after her father by leading a way in life for other people and for generations to see her on TV, to get up and make a stand for themselves."
As friends reflected on a life dedicated to truth-telling, creativity, cultural strength and service to her people, they remembered a groundbreaker without peer.
From television to radio, theatre to festivals, Aunty Rhoda took First Nations stories to some of the biggest stages in the country and the world.
Reflecting on her impact, Actor Aaron Fa'aoso says Aunty Rhoda was a force.
"A life that didn't just move through this world, but shaped it. A life that didn't just open doors, but changed what was possible on the other side of them, you were a force. But you were more than that. You were grounded in power. You knew exactly who you were."
And while her illustrious career took Aunty Rhoda around the world, loved ones told the congregation that no matter how far she travelled, Culture and Country were always at her centre.
The arts were her passion and her platform.
A farewell, fittingly filled with music, song and dance.
Long time friend and Australian Country music legend Troy Cassar Daley paid tribute with a performance of one of Aunty Rhoda's favourite songs.
While Casey Donovan's moving performance of Ave Maria ensured there wasn't a dry eye in the church.
Few will ever match the contribution of Aunty Rhoda Roberts to Australia's cultural identity.
She will be remembered as a leader, mentor and fierce advocate for her people.
It is a legacy that will forever live on in the stages she transformed, the stories she championed, and the generations she inspired.
In consideration of Indigenous protocols, SBS/NITV has gained permission to use and reproduce Rhoda's name, voice and image in line with her wishes. We also continue to consult with her family and community.
