These are all ways the Wagga community have remembered Aunty Flo Grant who died on Tuesday, surrounded by friends and family on Wiradjuri country.

Among many accolades, Aunty Flo's passion for education had the biggest impact on the Wagga community through her work with Charles Sturt University where she shared her knowledge of Wiradjuri language and culture.

CSU Vice-Chancellor Andrew Vann paid tribute to the Wiradjuri elder, saying he "Gained enourmously from knowing Aunty Flo and by learning from her in every conversation [they] had".

"Aunty Flo would disapprove if I were to describe her as anything other than a Wiradjuri woman but working from her strong and proud cultural base she was also an inspirational leader at the national level in Indigenous matters," he said.

"The University and the Riverina is by far the better for the grace, wisdom, thought, leadership and nation building that Aunty Flo championed through to her very last day."

In June 2019, her efforts were recognised by the University as they awarded Aunty Flo with an Order of the Companion of the University.

Aunty Flo's contributions spanned beyond the university's borders though, and mayor Greg Conkey shared his gratitude for her impact on the wider community of Wagga.

"She was a very highly regarded Wiradjuri elder and will always be remembered," he said.

"She had extensive engagement with the council on issues like nation building and Wiradjuri language, culture and heritage, and connecting the university to Wiradjuri culture."

In one of her many efforts to recognise Wiradjuri culture, Aunty Flo was at the crux of a movement to change the name of the Mid Western Highway to the Wiradjuri Highway, as it is the state's only road that exists entirely within an Aboriginal cultural area.

"It's written in the stars," Aunty Flo once said of the highway, adding it was an important track used by Aboriginal people for years.

Cr Conkey described Aunty Flo as "A woman of deep faith".

"She was a change maker, had a great passion for education and giving opportunities to the future generations," he said.

"We pass on our respect and condolences to her family."

Deputy Prime Minister and member for Riverina Michael McCormack also expressed his thoughts and gratitude for Aunty Flo's contributions to the community.

"I mentioned Aunty Flo in my inaugural speech and I have always had the utmost respect for her views, especially regarding her connection with the land," he said.

"Flo will be remembered long into the future through her tireless advocacy work."

A lasting statement made by Aunty Flo which epitomises her passion for culture and grit to fight for it was when she said it was important to recognise Australia's long history "warts and all".