06 July, 2015

Recognising NAIDOC SA Award Winners

The recipients of the 2015 NAIDOC SA Awards will be announced today at a ceremony at Adelaide Town Hall to celebrate this year’s NAIDOC week.

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

More than 350 guests will share morning tea with the Lord Mayor and NAIDOC SA patrons and ambassadors, observe the raising of the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander flag 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.

Recipients will be presented with their awards at the Lord Mayor’s morning tea for NAIDOC 2015 by Ms Joyleen Thomas, Chairperson of NAIDOC SA and assisted by NAIDOC Ambassadors, Shirley Peisley AM and Frank Lampard OAM.

Lord Mayor, Martin Haese, said 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 Martin.

“This year, the National NAIDOC theme for 2015 selected by the National NAIDOC Committee is ‘We all Stand on Sacred Ground: Learn, Respect and Celebrate’.

“Council strongly supports this theme because, each day, we acknowledge that we stand on sacred ground and that we have an important part to play in reconciliation.”

Joyleen Thomas said working with City of Adelaide on NAIDOC week initiatives proves that ongoing collaboration is a key ingredient of the reconciliation process.

“Hosting the awards and announcing the winners in the Town Hall once again demonstrates City of Adelaide’s commitment to reconciliation,” Joyleen said.

City of Adelaide was the first Local Government council in the nation to implement a stretch Reconciliation Action Plan. Council supports reconciliation in a range of other ways including dual naming of the Park Lands to recognise sacred ground and the hosting an annual Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Art Exhibition in the Adelaide Town Hall. This and the Art Pod exhibition are both part of the national NAIDOC celebrations running throughout July.

Council’s contribution towards NAIDOC this year enables so many people to come together and participate in a range of activities and to celebrate the history, culture and achievements of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples. NAIDOC is celebrated by all Australians.

This year’s NAIDOC award recipients:

Female Elder of the Year
Sponsored by Santos
Recipient: Joanne Willmot
Presenter: Shirley Peisley

Male Elder of the Year
Sponsored by SANTOS
Recipient: Cyril Coaby
Presenter: Frank Lampard

Young Person of the Year
Sponsored by Life Without Barriers
Recipient: Marcellus Enalanga
Presenter: Shirley Peisley

Person of the Year
Sponsored by Anglicare SA
Recipient: Harry Miller Snr
Presenter: Frank Lampard

Apprentice of the Year
Sponsored by Maxima
Recipient: Darren Williams
Presenter: Shirley Peisley

Scholar of the Year
Sponsored by the University of SA
Recipient: Susan Dixon
Presenter: Frank Lampard

Artist of the Year
Sponsored by the Office for the Commissioner for Aboriginal Engagement
Recipient: Beaver Lennon
Presenter: Shirley Peisley

Aboriginal / Torres Strait Islander Business of the Year
Sponsored by Indigenous Business Australia
Recipient: Bookabee Tours
Presenter: Frank Lampard

Lifetime Achievement Award
Sponsored by SAHMRI
Recipient: Emeritus Professor Paul Hughes AM, FACE
Presenter: Shirley Peisley

Sportswomen of the Year
Sponsored by the Office for Recreation and Sport
Recipient: Skyiesha Rigney
Presenter: Shirley Peisley

Sportsman the Year
Sponsored by the Office for Recreation and Sport
Recipient: Eddie Betts
Presenter: Frank Lampard

VIPs in attendance today will include:

The Minister for Aboriginal Affairs and Reconciliation, Hon Kyam Maher MLC
The Shadow Minister for Communities & Social Inclusion, Dr Duncan McFetridge MP Leader of the Opposition in the Senate, Senator The Hon Penny Wong
Mayor David O'Loughlin, City of Prospect Professor Lowitja O’Donoghue AC, CBE, DSG
NAIDOC South Australia Committee, Joyleen Thomas Chairperson NAIDOC SA Patrons Uncle Lewis O’Brien and Aunty Josie Agius
NAIDOC SA Ambassadors, Aunty Shirley Peisley AM, Uncle Frank Lampard OAM, and Aunty Sharon Gollan and Uncle David Rathman
Members of Council’s Reconciliation Committee Members of NAIDOC SA Committee

The NAIDOC SA March from Victoria Square / Tarntanyangga to Parliament House on Friday 10 July at 10.30am and NAIDOC SA Family Fun Day at Bonython Park from 12 noon until 3.00 pm will be followed by the National NAIDOC Awards Ball at the Adelaide Convention Centre in the evening.

NAIDOC SA Contact: Joyleen Thomas - 0427 712 810

Matt Halliwell