Destiny deacon biography

Australian photographer (1957–2024)

Destiny DeaconHonFRPS (6 February 1957 – 23 May 2024) was an Australian photographer, broadcaster, political activist and media artist.

She exhibited photographs and films across Australia and also internationally, focusing on politics and exposing the disparagement around Australian Aboriginal cultures. She was credited with introducing the term "Blak" to refer to Indigenous Australians' contemporary art, culture and history.

Early life

Deacon was born on 6 February 1957^[1] in Maryborough, Queensland and was of the Kuku Yalanji of Far North Queensland^[2] and Erub/Mer (Torres Strait Islander) peoples.^[3] She had 6 siblings, 4 from her mother's other relationship.^[4]

Deacon relocated to Port Melbourne^[5] in 1959 with her mother Eleanor Harding, who was then married to Destiny's father wharf labourer and unionist Warren Deacon.

Soon after, Deacon's parents separated and she