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Naidoc awards: Linda Burney and Gracelyn Smallwood among those honoured Naidoc awards: Linda Burney and Gracelyn Smallwood among those honoured
(about 1 month later)
The first Indigenous Australian elected to the New South Wales parliament, a health worker who pioneered AIDS awareness in Aboriginal communities and a tireless advocate for the recognition of Indigenous servicemen were all among the winners at the 2014 Naidoc awards.The first Indigenous Australian elected to the New South Wales parliament, a health worker who pioneered AIDS awareness in Aboriginal communities and a tireless advocate for the recognition of Indigenous servicemen were all among the winners at the 2014 Naidoc awards.
About 1,200 guests converged on the Gold Coast Convention Centre on Friday night to see the NSW Labor deputy leader, Linda Burney, presented with a lifetime achievement award.About 1,200 guests converged on the Gold Coast Convention Centre on Friday night to see the NSW Labor deputy leader, Linda Burney, presented with a lifetime achievement award.
Burney climbed up from a hardscrabble childhood – her mother, a 22-year-old unmarried white woman, fled the hospital shortly after giving birth to her – into key roles in the NSW education department formulating policy for Aboriginal youngsters and integrating Aboriginal perspectives into the traditional curriculum.Burney climbed up from a hardscrabble childhood – her mother, a 22-year-old unmarried white woman, fled the hospital shortly after giving birth to her – into key roles in the NSW education department formulating policy for Aboriginal youngsters and integrating Aboriginal perspectives into the traditional curriculum.
As president of the NSW Aboriginal Education Consultative Group, she would come face to face with senior ministers and bureaucrats, meetings that imbued the young Wiradjuri woman from the Riverina with a new confidence. She told the Australian of a powerful realisation that one day struck her, sitting opposite an unnamed NSW minister: “I’m as intelligent as you are; I could do your job.”As president of the NSW Aboriginal Education Consultative Group, she would come face to face with senior ministers and bureaucrats, meetings that imbued the young Wiradjuri woman from the Riverina with a new confidence. She told the Australian of a powerful realisation that one day struck her, sitting opposite an unnamed NSW minister: “I’m as intelligent as you are; I could do your job.”
And she did –serving as minister for community services and the state plan in the last NSW Labor government.And she did –serving as minister for community services and the state plan in the last NSW Labor government.
Gracelyn Smallwood was named person of the year. The midwife and human rights activist grew up in Townsville, the north Queensland town where, in 1967, nine out of 10 people voted against removing discriminatory provisions from the constitution. Gracelyn Smallwood was named person of the year. The midwife and human rights activist grew up in Townsville, the north Queensland town where, in 1967, nine out of 10 people voted against removing discriminatory provisions from the constitution.
It was the same town where she founded the Aboriginal and Islanders' Health Service in 1974, the beginning of a career promoting indigenous health that would culminate in an invitation from Nelson Mandela in 1997 to tour South Africa giving lectures on HIV-Aids.It was the same town where she founded the Aboriginal and Islanders' Health Service in 1974, the beginning of a career promoting indigenous health that would culminate in an invitation from Nelson Mandela in 1997 to tour South Africa giving lectures on HIV-Aids.
Smallwood won an Order of Australia medal in 1992 for raising awareness of HIV-Aids among Indigenous people, which included the creation of the characters Condoman and Lubelicious to promote safe sex.Smallwood won an Order of Australia medal in 1992 for raising awareness of HIV-Aids among Indigenous people, which included the creation of the characters Condoman and Lubelicious to promote safe sex.
Nearly a century on from Gallipoli, the focus is turning to the role of Indigenous soldiers in Australia’s overseas wars, thanks in no small measure to the efforts of Richard Archibald.Nearly a century on from Gallipoli, the focus is turning to the role of Indigenous soldiers in Australia’s overseas wars, thanks in no small measure to the efforts of Richard Archibald.
Naidoc’s male elder of the year led a delegation into the jungles of Papua New Guinea in 2012 to perform a ceremony for the Indigenous soldiers who fell on the Kokoda track, included his cousin, Private Frank Archibald.Naidoc’s male elder of the year led a delegation into the jungles of Papua New Guinea in 2012 to perform a ceremony for the Indigenous soldiers who fell on the Kokoda track, included his cousin, Private Frank Archibald.
Seattle Seahawks defensive tackle Jesse Williams, the first Indigenous Australian to play American football at the highest level, was named sportsperson of the year.Seattle Seahawks defensive tackle Jesse Williams, the first Indigenous Australian to play American football at the highest level, was named sportsperson of the year.
Williams, who was born on Thursday Island and raised in Brisbane, represented his state at basketball before taking up gridiron at 14. He was drafted by the Seahawks last year, but was missing with an injury when the franchise won the Super Bowl in February. Nonetheless, he still scored Australia’s first championship ring.Williams, who was born on Thursday Island and raised in Brisbane, represented his state at basketball before taking up gridiron at 14. He was drafted by the Seahawks last year, but was missing with an injury when the franchise won the Super Bowl in February. Nonetheless, he still scored Australia’s first championship ring.
Patricia O’Connor was named female elder of the year, Cherne’ee Sutton and Amelia Telford youths of the year and Shellie Morris artist of the year. Donisha Duff was the scholar of the year, and Patricia Doolan, a NSW banker, was named apprentice of the year. Patricia O’Connor was named female elder of the year, Cherne’ee Sutton and Amelia Telford youths of the year and Shellie Morris artist of the year. Donisha Duff was the scholar of the year, and Patricia Doolan, a NSW banker, was named apprentice of the year.