Who is Aunt Nola from Mutant Message Down Under and what is their importance?

Nola is Marlo's beloved aunt back home in America, a source of what she (Marlo) believes is unconditional love and support. The connection between the two women, and the limited nature of that unconditional love, is symbolized by a ring given to Marlo by Nola and which is one of the first things she (Marlo) loses at the beginning of her journey. It could be argued that both Nola and the ring represent the unenlightened, superficial life Marlo is asked to leave behind when she goes on walkabout with the Aborigines.