Cissy McLeod sometimes spelt Cissie McLeod (c.20 July 1896 – 6 February 1928) was the first Indigenous woman in Australia to receive a bronze medal from the Royal Humane Society for her act of bravery when saving her adoptive mother in Darwin in the Northern Territory of Australia. Early life McLeod was born in Borroloola, the daughter of Arthur McLeod and an Aboriginal woman recorded only as 'Polly'. Arthur McLeod was the resident policeman, justice of the peace, local magistrate and storekeeper who managed Jolly's Store and he and Polly had two children together Cissy and Clara. They are both recorded as having other children. McLeod, and her sister, were adopted by Captain Frederick Mugg, of the Government Steamer in Darwin, and his wife Mrs Mary Mugg. The nature of this adoption is not clear and the sisters were referred to as both the couples 'adopted children' and 'foster children'; it is worth noting that at this time the Northern Territory operated under South Australian legislation where there were no formal adoption laws until 1925. It is also unclear how the children came to be living with the Muggs and, in letters, Percy Kelsey, claimed that Arthur McLeod had been 'unable to look after' his 'illegitimate children'; what is very unclear is the feelings and intentions of their mother Polly whose say in the matter is not recorded. it is, however, clear that the Muggs offered a loving home and McLeod and her sister were well cared for and Kelsey wrote that '[t]hey were nice girls and the Muggs treated them as if they were their own children'. Upon moving to Darwin McLeod attended the Convent school in Darwin where, despite there being a facility specifically for 'half-caste' girls to receive basic literary and housekeeping skills, she was able to attend the 'main' part of the school In 1910 McLeod was awarded for achieving the 'highest mark for school work' in her class. Act of bravery On 9 January 1912, McLeod, who was 13 at the time, saved her adoptive mother Mary, who, on a dark night, fell off a jetty and disappeared into the waters of Darwin Harbour. Against the strong tide, McLeod jumped in the water and brought Mugg, who was unable to swim, to a pillar where she kept her afloat until they received assistance from a steamer that was moored at the pier. The incident was