Sreten Božić, widely known by his pen name B. Wongar, a distinguished Serbian-Australian writer whose powerful narratives illuminated the lives and struggles of Aboriginal people, passed away on March 8, 2026, in Melbourne, Australia, at the age of 94. Born in 1932 in Gornja Trešnjevica, then part of the Kingdom of Yugoslavia, Wongar's early life was marked by political turmoil and displacement. Shortly after his passing, Serbian news outlets such as Blic, Telegraf.rs, Frontal, and Srpski Ugao published obituaries and articles, highlighting his significant role as a Serbian-Australian writer and a chronicler and protector of Aboriginal people.

Božić began his writing career in the mid-1950s, publishing poetry in Yugoslav literary journals 'Mlada kultura' and 'Novi vesnik,' and was an active member of the 'Đuro Salaj' workers-writers group in Belgrade. His education was interrupted when he was denied a scholarship due to his father Stevan's political views, who had been imprisoned as a "kulak" by the post-war Yugoslav regime. Working as a journalist in Serbia, Božić's "politically incorrect" writing led to him being banned from journalism for life by Yugoslav communists, a pivotal event that contributed to his decision to flee his homeland in 1958.

Seeking refuge, he arrived in Paris, France, where he lived in a Red Cross camp and immersed himself in the city's vibrant intellectual circles. During this period, he reportedly met influential figures such as Jean-Paul Sartre and Simone de Beauvoir, who are said to have helped him publish his literary works in the esteemed journal 'Les Temps Modernes,' experiences that profoundly shaped his worldview and literary aspirations. He immigrated to Australia in 1960, a move that would irrevocably alter the course of his life and career.

Upon arriving in Australia, Božić, in search of work, bought a camel to cross the vast Tanami Desert, where he became lost and was close to death before being saved by a tribal man. This encounter initiated his approximately decade-long immersion among tribal Aboriginal communities in the Northern Territory. It was during this immersive period that he adopted the name Banumbir Wongar, which he explained signified "morning star" and "messenger from the spirit world" in the local Yolngu Matha language, though he later stated in an interview that "B." also recognized his Serbian name. He married an Aboriginal woman named Djumala, through whom he gained a deep understanding of Aboriginal poetry and traditional bush life, knowledge that became the bedrock of his literary work. Tragically, Djumala and their children reportedly died from drinking water from a poisoned well, a profound loss he recounted in his autobiography, 'Dingoes Den.'

Despite his deep connection and literary focus on Aboriginal culture, Wongar faced criticism in Australia regarding his portrayal of Aboriginal people, leading to accusations of cultural appropriation. Consequently, he was not permitted to remain in Northern Australia and was forced to relocate to Melbourne, settling on his bush property, "Dingo Den," in Gippsland. During his time in Northern Australia, he also developed the "Totem and Ore" photographic collection, also known as "Boomerang and Atom," comprising thousands of black-and-white photographs documenting the devastating impact of uranium mining and British nuclear testing on Aboriginal people. An exhibition of this powerful collection in the Parliamentary Library of Australia in Canberra was controversially shut down just two days after its official opening in 1974.

Wongar's literary career gained international prominence with the release of his 1978 short story collection, "The Track to Bralgu," which garnered critical acclaim abroad. His writing, often focusing on the impact of Western modernity and nuclear testing on Aboriginal culture and the environment, resonated deeply with readers worldwide. He authored the acclaimed "Nuclear Trilogy," comprising the novels "Walg" (1983), "Karan" (1985), and "Gabo Djara" (1987), which was later expanded to a quintet with the addition of "Raki" and "Didjeridu Charmer." Nobel laureate Peter Handke wrote the foreword for the German edition of his 1987 story collection "Babaru."

A significant challenge in his career occurred when police raided his home and confiscated the sole manuscript of his novel "Raki." In 1990, Australian author Thomas Shapcott and approximately 200 other writers signed a petition demanding its return, and it took Božić five years to painstakingly rewrite the novel from memory. Despite the controversies surrounding his identity as a Serbian immigrant, his works have been translated into 13 languages and have sold over a million copies globally, making them a significant literary representation of Australian Aboriginal culture. One source claims he received the highest Australian literary award for "Raki," which should have made him a Nobel Prize candidate, but this right was reportedly denied due to "politics and a change in the rules."

B. Wongar's legacy is that of a passionate and often controversial voice who dedicated his writing to shedding light on the plight of Australia's First Peoples. He served as a writer-in-residence at the Aboriginal Research Centre at Monash University in the late 1980s and received an Honorary Doctorate from the Faculty of Philology and Arts at the University of Kragujevac, Serbia, in 2009. His archive is meticulously preserved in the National Library of Australia, ensuring his profound contributions remain accessible. Srpski Ugao referred to him as 'the most significant chronicler of Aboriginal fate,' stating his work remains a 'permanent document about colonial heritage, nuclear tests and ecological devastation,' while Telegraf.rs called him 'the greatest protector of Aborigines.' Blic noted that he was 'much better known in the world than in his homeland,' underscoring the international resonance of his powerful storytelling, which fostered greater awareness and understanding of the stories and experiences he chronicled.