Time line

http://www.kooriweb.org/foley/heroes/sykes.html

1943 - born in Townsville Australia

1950 - her son was born

1980 - She graduated at Harvard University in the US, doctorate in education.

1994 - awarded the Australian Human Rights Medal

1967 - became an activist in the lead-up to the landmark

1970 - moved to Sydney

1970 - began writing and in a 10-year period as a freelance writer, contributed many more articles on Aboriginal disadvantage and indigenous politics to various outlets

1971 - her daughter was borne

1972 - was one of the founders of the Aboriginal Tent Embassy

1975 to 1980 - Sykes was an adviser on Aboriginal health and education to the NSW Health Commission and her first book of poetry

1979 - published Love Poems and Other Revolutionary Acts

1981 - she ghosted the award-winning autobiography of well-known NSW indigenous social worker

2002 - was immensely frustrated to be left paralysed on one side and unable to walk

2010 - died at the Royal Prince Alfred Hospital in Sydney after failing to recover from a stroke suffered eight years ago