Connie Bush

Constance Doreen Bush MBE (1919 – 1997) was an Australian aboriginal health worker.^[1][2]

Bush was born in 1919 at Borroloola. Her mother, Norah, was a Garrwa and her father, Tom Turner, was a mounted police constable.^[1] Connie and her mother were separated in 1924, and never saw each other again.^[3] Bush was raised at the mission in Groote Eylandt.^[4]

A street in Alyangula, Northern Territory, is named in her honour.^[5]

Bush was appointed MBE in the 1981 Birthday Honours "for services to Aboriginal women".^[6]

In 1990, Bush published several short works, including two autobiographical works, in a special issue of Australian Short Stories on Aboriginal Short Stories, edited by Bruce Pascoe. The volume was dedicated to Bush and to Maureen Watson.^[7]