Aunty Dot Peters was born in 1930 in Melbourne and spent much of her childhood at Corranderrk Aboriginal Mission in Healesville, where she learned the traditional arts of weaving and basket coiling.
Aunty Dot’s father Vincent fought in the Second World War. He was captured and died a prisoner of war on the Thai Burma Railway. Unfortunately, her father’s sacrifice for his country went unacknowledged. Unlike the families of white soldiers, Aunty Dot’s family received no land, support or acknowledgement by the government.
In 2006, after tirelessly campaigning for such recognition, Aunty Dot approached then Healesville RSL President Sam Halim who shared her vision of honouring the forgotten aboriginal soldiers, and together they managed to hold the first ever reconciliation ceremony at Healesville RSL. During the ceremony the aboriginal flag was raised, and the didgeridoo was played during the ode.
The following year, with the help of Department of Premier and Cabinet and other organisations, the first Victorian Aboriginal Remembrance Service was held at the Shrine of Remembrance in Melbourne, which is now an annual event.
Since that time, Aunty Dot has dedicated her life to this cause. Her work has been acknowledged with many awards, including a NAIDOC Elders Award, Yarra Ranges Shire Lifetime Achievement Award, Victorian Aboriginal Award, and, in 2001, a Centenary Medal.
In 2011, Aunty Dot was inducted to the Victorian Honour Roll of Women. She is also on the Victorian Indigenous Honour Roll.