AustLit

Maroochy Barambah was born Yvette Isaacs and became Maroochy Barambah in 1982. The word Maroochy means black swan and is also the language name for her area which extends from Bribie Island to Fraser Island on the South East Queensland coast. Barambah Station is the old name for Cherbourg. Barrambah left Cherbourg mission at age 12 and is the first Aboriginal person to graduate from the Victorian College of the Arts. She is also the first professional female Aboriginal opera singer. Barambah has also explored other genres of musical performance including jazz, rock, pop classical, traditional and reggae. She appeared in the film The Flying Doctors.