Brenda Matthews, a proud Wiradjuri woman, is changing the narrative in hopes of a better future. Identifying Australia as a dual nation, her quest is to bring the two worlds together, so we can all walk as one. Her story is a powerful one and beautifully written. Titled The Last Daughter, Brenda shares it out of love and forgiveness.

Brenda was taken from her parents along with her siblings when she was just two years old. She was raised as a much-loved daughter in a white family in a country town on the outskirts of Sydney for five years without any knowledge of her Aboriginal family or identity. Suddenly, she was reunited with her birth family, becoming the last daughter to come home. Decades later, Brenda searches for her foster family and white sister, uncovering buried secrets and government bungling while finding a deep connection to her Aboriginal culture. Through her journey to unite her two families, Brenda's story showcases heartbreak, love, and hope, offering a way forward for all Australians.

The Last Daughter also features as a documentary film directed by Brenda Matthews and Nathaniel Schmidt. It premiered last October at the Adelaide Film Festival and won The Audience Award for Feature Documentary. This year, the film won 2023 Best Australian Film at the Gold Coast Film Festival.

“We can’t change the past, nor do I want others to feel guilty for what has happened.
I share this story out of love and forgiveness, which my Mother and Father have taught me from both sides.”
– Brenda Matthews