AustLit

Lois Peeler AM started modelling as a teenager at the Glenda Marshall Model School. She was the niece of Gladys and Sir Douglas Nicholls. Her first employment opportunity was at GTV Channel Nine working with Hal Todd on the Breakfast Show and she went on to model in the 1961 Gold Medal Garments for the Wool Board. Peeler travelled overseas in Europe and in 1969 settled in the United States where she raised her two girls. She returned to Australia to work with her late sister Hyllus Maris who was instrumental in establishing the Worawa College for Aborigines.

Lois has worked as the Manager of the Aboriginal Employment Unit of the Victorian Public Service Board and headed Aboriginal Tourism Australia for over ten years. Lois has beenChairperson of the Department of Justice and Regulation’s Regional Aboriginal Justice Advisory Committee (Eastern), a member of the Victorian Government’s Aboriginal Justice Forum, Chairperson of the Eastern Local Aboriginal Education Consultative Group, and involved with the implementation of the Marrung Aboriginal Education Action Plan. She was also one of the original members of The Sapphires, and principal at Australia's only Aboriginal girls' boarding school.

In 2014, Lois was made a Member of the General Division of the Order of Australia.

In 2017, Lois received an honorary doctorate from RMIT University for services to Indigenous education. Also in 2017, she was awarded the Victorian Senior Australian of the Year Award.

Lois is an elder of the Yorta Yorta people.