Bonnie Fagan
Bonnie Fagan, now known as Bonnie Chew, is an activist and advocate for her Indigenous heritage, and has sat on the Victorian Aboriginal Heritage Council. Early and personal life Bonnie Fagan was born in 1979 in Footscray, Victoria, Australia. She was born into the Wadawurrung community. In 1987 her family moved to Talbot, Victoria, where Fagan was educated at Talbot Primary School, and Maryborough High School. She married Andy Chew in 2012. Career Wathaurung Aboriginal Corp Bonnie Chew was Cultural Heritage Coordinator at Wadawurrung (Wathaurung Aboriginal Corp) from 2008 to 2011. The Wadawurrung (Wathaurung Aboriginal Corp) are the traditional owners and Registered Aboriginal Party of the land encompassing Ballarat and Geelong. She worked with the community, archaeologists, developers, anthropologists, ecologists and government authorities on about 126 projects to preserve the Wadawurrung cultural heritage. Federation University Aboriginal Education Centres Between 2011 and August 2016 Chew was manager of Federation University Australia's (formerly University of Ballarat) Aboriginal Education Centres, learning needs of Indigenous students across multiple centers. She also teaches Indigenous Studies in the School of Education and Arts. She has conducted welcoming ceremonies on behalf of the Wadawurrung Elders, including notable events, like the Ballarat Sitting event at the Parliament of