09 July, 2019
NAIDOC SA Award Winners Celebrated Today
The recipients of the 2019 NAIDOC SA Awards were announced today at a ceremony at Adelaide Town Hall to celebrate this year’s NAIDOC Week.
More than 350 guests shared morning tea with the Lord Mayor and observed the raising of the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander flags from the balcony of Town Hall.
Civic ceremonies such as these reflect Council’s continued recognition and celebration of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultures in the City of Adelaide.
The awards were presented by SA NAIDOC Committee Chair Ms Scharlene Lamont and 2019 SA NAIDOC Ambassador Roger Thomas with Lynette Crocker.
This year’s NAIDOC Week theme Voice. Truth. Treaty. aims to highlight the importance for all Australians to work together for a shared future and recognise the history of Aboriginal Australians as First Nation peoples.
Lord Mayor of Adelaide Sandy Verschoor said that the NAIDOC SA Awards are an important way of honouring the significant contributions made by Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities.
“We warmly congratulate all award recipients on their achievements and for inspiring others within the community through their actions,” said the Lord Mayor.
“The resilience and richness of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultures are of great importance to Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal people alike. It is important that the Lore, knowledge and stories continue to be told.
“The City of Adelaide supports NAIDOC Week and we are proud of our continued commitment to the reconciliation process with Kaurna and broader Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities.”
Also presented this morning was the inaugural Lord Mayor’s NAIDOC Award, which was presented to Lynette Crocker, a Kaurna woman and respected Elder from Adelaide.
Lynette is a member of the City of Adelaide Reconciliation Committee, has been a long-standing Kaurna Nation Cultural Heritage Association Board Member and a named applicant on the Local Government and Kaurna Indigenous Land Use Agreement.
“This award recognises the outstanding achievement and service of an extraordinary Aboriginal and/ or Torres Strait Islander community member who has made a significant contribution to Reconciliation in the City of Adelaide,” said the Lord Mayor.
“Lynette has displayed a deep commitment to reconciliation, working with Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal communities in the areas of wellbeing, employment, native title, education and conservation for over 30 years.
“She works tirelessly, compassionately, quietly and determinedly for the interests of all Kaurna people.”
Council’s second Stretch Action Plan was endorsed in May last year. It consolidates Council's longstanding commitment to reconciliation with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities.
The Plan is registered with Reconciliation Australia and has been created in collaboration with the City of Adelaide Reconciliation Committee and broader Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander community.
This year’s NAIDOC award recipients are below.
| Person of the Year – Sponsored by Anglicare SA | Sarah Betts |
| Young Person of the Year – Sponsored by NAIDOC SA | Courtney Hammon |
| Female Elder of the Year – Sponsored by Community Housing Ltd | Yvonne Agius |
| Male Elder of the Year – Sponsored by Community Housing Ltd | Roy Coulthard |
| Scholar of the Year – Sponsored by the University of South Australia | Sharon Sutton |
| Apprentice / Trainee of the Year – Sponsored by Maxima | Chaelyn Sumner |
| Artist of the Year – Sponsored by The Commissioner for Aboriginal Engagement | Taree Sansbury |
| Sports Woman of the Year – Sponsored by the Office for Recreation, Sport & Racing | Rikki Milera Wilson |
| Sports Man of the Year – Sponsored by the Office for Recreation, Sport & Racing | Robert Young |
| Aboriginal / Torres Strait Islander Business of the Year – Sponsored by Indigenous Business Australia | Yellaka |
| Lifetime Achievement Award – Sponsored by SAHMRI | Raylene Campion |
| Caring for Country Award – Sponsored by The Department for Environment and Water | Merle Simpson |
| LGBTIQ Person of the Year – Sponsored by Andrew Birtwistle-Smith | Charlotte Dare |
To find out more about NAIDOC Week activities, please visit cityofadelaide.com.au/NAIDOC
For more information
Paula Stevens