User:Grant Lipscomb

Beverley Ann Grant Lipscomb is an Australian Aboriginal woman of the Wiradjuri Nation NSW. She was born at Canowindra, NSW, on the 27th October 1949 to Patsy Rea Grant (Barden/ Boney) and Ronald Richard Grant. Both parents are now deceased.

Her mother was born at Brewarrina and grew up at the Aboriginal Girl's Home at Cootamundra, NSW, and her father was born at Condobolin and grew up at the Aboriginal reserve at Condobolin. She is the grand-daughter of Richard Edgar Samuel Grant (deceased) and Mabel Hughes of Forbes (deceased), and great grand daughter of Richard Grant (deceased) and Ada Sloane (deceased). She is a descendant of John Grant (Irish) who took over Wiradjuri land at Merraganoury, Hartley and Canowindra. Her great great grandmother 'Jemima', was a full blooded Aboriginal woman. The black Grants eventually lived at the Grant Camp on the banks of the Lachlan River at Goolagong, the last place Bev remembers sharing with her extended Aboriginal family, before being transferred to the Aboriginal Mission.

From 1953-1966, Bev grew up with her three sisters at the United Aboriginal Mission Children's Home at Bomaderry, NSW, under the Australian Government's Assimilation Policy. Bev attended Bomaderry Public School, and then Nowra High School where she excelled in her studies and sport. She was voted Nowra High School's Sports Captain while only in Form 4, due to her sportsmanship and leadership qualities. Her time at the Mission was a challenging time, that one day she hopes to document.

Bev left the U.A.M. Home in 1966 to commence her nurse's training at the Royal Alexander Children's Hospital, Camerdown Sydney, and graduated as a State Registered Nurse in 1970. That year, she married a Petty Officer Radar Plotter of the Royal Australian Navy and had two daughters, Danielle and Sharonne. She worked as a Registered nurse at the Repatriation Hospital Greenslopes for 8 years. Her and her husband divorced in 1980.

In 1982, Bev married a medical practitioner, and they went to Coolangatta to work in a medical practice. They have one daughter, Adrienne, who also graduated as a State Registered Nurse. She went on the study Mental Health at UTS Sydney, and is now a Clinical Nurse Specialist at St Vincents Hospital Sydney.

Bev has since gone back to university and obtained a Master of Indigenous Studies/ Wellbeing at Southern Cross University in Lismore, and a Graduate Diploma Indigenous Health/ Substance Use at University of Sydney. Bev was awarded The College of Indigenous Australian Peoples Prize.

Bev found she had a talent producing Aboriginal Dot Art. Her artwork has found it's way to America, England, Ireland, Sweden and China. Her artwork also hangs at several TAFE campuses, University of Sydney, Southern Cross University, University of Sydney, Human Rights Commission Sydney, Link-Up Corporation Brisbane and various other venues. She has written poetry that outlines her life, but this has not yet been published.

Her work has been in nursing in hospitals, surgeries, clinics and ambulance escorts. She teaches, trains and assesses AIN'S, EN'S, Aboriginal Health workers, Aged Care workers, Child Care workers, foster carers, and she delivers accredited Aboriginal Cultural Education workshops for teachers and workplaces. Bev has also worked in Indigenous research and Aboriginal health curriculum, and with Child Protection agencies. Her voluntary work has been with senior citizens, Aboriginal children in care, and family home services.

Presently, Bev does contract work for all the above areas when called upon.