03 July, 2016

NAIDOC SA Award Winners Celebrated

NAIDOC SA Award recipients will be announced this morning at a ceremony in Adelaide Town Hall as part of NAIDOC Week 2016 celebrations.

The Lord Mayor’s civic reception, NAIDOC SA Award presentation and flag raising ceremony have become traditional and popular annual events during NAIDOC Week.

Guests will share morning tea with the Lord Mayor and NAIDOC SA patrons and ambassadors, and observe the raising of the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander flag from the Town Hall balcony.

Civic ceremonies such as these reflect Council’s continued recognition and celebration of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultures in the city.

Recipients will be presented with their awards at the Lord Mayor’s morning tea from 10:00am for NAIDOC 2016 by Ms Joyleen Thomas, Chairperson of NAIDOC SA and assisted by NAIDOC Ambassadors, Sharon Gollan and Frank Lampard OAM.

Lord Mayor Martin Haese said the NAIDOC SA Awards honour the significant contributions made by Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities.

“These special awards are all about recognising those who inspire the community through their actions,” said Martin.

“Council strongly supports the awards and acknowledges the significant role we continue to play in the reconciliation process.

“City of Adelaide was the first Local Government council in the nation to implement a stretch Reconciliation Action Plan and supports reconciliation in a range of other ways, including dual naming of the Park Lands to recognise sacred ground.”

NAIDOC SA Chairperson Joyleen Thomas looked forward to continuing to work with City of Adelaide on NAIDOC week initiatives and said it was a special week.

“We enjoy working alongside Council during NAIDOC Week and throughout the year and today’s function at Town Hall promises to be another wonderful event,” Joyleen said.

The NAIDOC SA March from Victoria Square / Tarntanyangga to Parliament House is on Friday 8 July at 11.00am and NAIDOC SA Family Fun Day at Victoria Park/Pakapakanthi from 11am until 4:30 pm.

The NAIDOC SA Ball at the Hilton Hotel, Victoria Square will be on the evening of Saturday 9 July.

Matt Halliwell