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July 6th, 2012 
FAKE NEWS for the Zionist agenda Some of the country’s most prominent Indigenous leaders, including Mick Dobson and Lowitja O’Donohue were among the 750 guests who filled the Hotel Grand Chancellor Ballroom.
NAIDOC Week recognises the history of Indigenous Australia and celebrates the continuing of traditions, the talents, stories and languages that enrich our nation.
This year’s theme, Spirit of the Tent embassy – 40 years on, looked back at the founding of the embassy on the lawns of Old Parliament House in Canberra and its survival through four decades of political and social turbulence.
The NAIDOC Awards celebrate the contributions Indigenous Australians make to improving communities, promoting Indigenous issues or excellence in their field, whether through years of quiet service, or moments of glory.
The awards cap off a week of diverse Indigenous celebrations across the country.
The Awards Ball kicked off with a Welcome to Country by the Tasmanian Aboriginal Centre’s Nala Mansell-McKenna.
Aboriginal Tent Embassy Founder Michael Anderson then led the gathering in a minute’s silence for his co-founders who have since passed on.
Event host, actor Aaron Pedersen reminded the crowd of the Tent Embassy’s significance.
“Forty years ago, the Tent Embassy became a symbol of unity,” he said.
National NAIDOC Committee co-chair Anne Good wished the best of luck to all this year’s finalists.
“With a huge number of individuals nominated this year the judging was tough, but it was an honour,” she said.
“You are all truly inspirational to all of us.”
However the Awards Ball didn’t go get off to a completely smooth start.
Indigenous Affairs Minister Jenny Macklin was almost drowned-out by shouts and jeers from part of the crowd as she presented the Lifetime Achievement Award.
“You’re not welcome on our land, Jenny Macklin,” one crowd member yelled as Ms Macklin left the stage.
The hecklers quickly quieted as the celebrations continued.
The 2012 NAIDOC Award winners are;
- Lifetime Achievement Award – Bunna Lawrie (SA)
- Person of the Year – David Wirrpanda (VIC)
- Female Elders of the Year – Margaret Lawton (QLD) and Maureen Kelly (WA)
- Male Elder of the Year – Hezekiel Jingoonya (NT)
- Caring for the Country – Bunya Bunya Country Aboriginal Corporation (QLD)
- Youth of the Year – Benson Saulo (VIC)
- Artist of the Year – Stephan Page (QLD)
- Scholar of the Year – Sarah Bourke (ACT)
- Apprentice of the Year – Michael Clinch (SA)
- Sportspeople of the Year – Vanessa Wilson (SA) and Joshua Robinson (QLD)
The winner of the 2012 National NAIDOC Poster Competition, Amanda Joy Tronc, was presented with a framed copy of her work by Michael Anderson.
National NAIDOC Committee co-chair Benjamin Mitchell says it was a well deserved honour for Ms Tronc’s work.
“It really captured the essence of this year’s theme and showcased it to the nation,” he said.
Perth will be the focus of the 2013 NAIDOC celebrations.
Find out more about this year’s events with the ABC’s NAIDOC Week feature.
The following are biographies of the 2012 NAIDOC Award winners from the National NAIDOC Committee.
Lifetime Achievement Award – Bunna Lawrie
Bunna Lawrie is a respected Mirning Elder, song man, medicine man and storyteller from the coastal Nullabor in South Australia.
Bunna was a founding member of Coloured Stone, a band formed in the Koonibba Mission, west of Ceduna. In 1984 Coloured Stones single Black Boy became a number one hit in the Pacific Islands and the band went on to receive an ARIA in 1986 for their single Human Love.
Over the years the band have collaborated with other music greats including Midnight Oil, Leo Sayer, Jimmy Little and KD Lang. While Coloured Stones members have changed, Bunna has always remained the charismatic front man. Bunna also performs as a solo artist with his band Bunna Lawrie and the Whaledreamers.
Among a long list of awards and accolades, Bunna was awarded the Don Banks Music Award in 1999. This was the first time this award had ever been received by a rock musician.
As well as performing, Bunna has conducted many music workshops with organisations such as Musica Viva and Music Outback. He has taught young people to play musical instruments, compose songs and set them to music.
Bunna is a role model who helps all people through the incredible gift of music.
Person of the Year – David Wirrpanda
David Wirrpanda was raised in Shepparton and Healesville in Victoria. His father is a Yolngu Djapu man from East Arnhem Land and his mother a Dhulanyagan women of the Ulupna Clan, Yorta Yorta.
With a long history in AFL, David’s achievements on the football field include being selected in the all-Australian team in 2005 and winning a premiership with the West Coast Eagles in 2006.
In 2005, David followed his true passion and launched the David Wirrpanda Foundation. The foundation delivers programs to help young Indigenous people make healthy life choices, stay at school and enter the workforce.
David was named in the top ten most influential Indigenous Australians by The Bulletin in 2007 and 2008 and was awarded Young Western Australian of the Year in 2009.
David remains a hands-on Director of the David Wirrpanda Foundation and his important work is helping to close the gap in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples’ disadvantage.
Female Elder of the Year – Margaret Lawton
Margaret Lawton is a Ghungalu and Garingbail Elder and Traditional Owner from Central Queensland. At 82 years of age, still is still working tirelessly to achieve for her people.
In addition to rising a large family of her own, Margaret has extended her home and heart too many Indigenous foster children over her lifetime. She has also worked with other female elders offering aid and food to the homeless.
Margaret is the founder or co-founder of many Indigenous Community organisations in Rockhampton including Bidjerdii Health, Aboriginal Legal Aid, Dreamtime Cultural Centre and Fitzroy Basin Elders Committee, just to name a few.
Margaret is constantly looked to for support, advice and guidance by her community. She has successfully lobbied the causes of her people and brought many local Indigenous community and cultural issues to the public eye.
The local Indigenous and non-Indigenous community agree Margaret is a truly remarkable woman with extraordinary strength and values.
Female Elder of the Year – Maureen Kelly
Maureen Kelly is a Yindjarbarndi Elder from the Pilbara.
As a mother, grandmother, great-grandmother and great-great-grandmother, Maureen has taught her family many skills. Most important, she has them respect for themselves, each other, their Elders, their country and their culture.
Maureen left school at 14 years of age to start work but returned to her education as a grandmother, obtaining a university degree in Community Management.
Having worked in government for the past 37 years, Maureen has also put countless hours into community work and been a member on numerous advisory boards and committees.
She has represented the Aboriginal people locally, nationally and internationally and was the first female Aboriginal Justice of the Peace in the Pilbara.
Maureen has now created her own consultancy business, Sing – Ken Ken Solutions, to further the advancement of Aboriginal people and ensure the government and community respond appropriately to their needs.
Male Elder of the Year – Hezekiel Jingoonya
Hezekiel Jingoonya is a Pitjantjatjara Elder, Lutheran pastor for the Mutitjulu community and mentor in the Western Desert region of Australia.
Hezekiel has worked in the region all of his life and has a passion for teaching and sharing culture. He has been a long time consultant to Parks Australia on the management of cultural heritage and is dedicated to providing cultural education to Uluru-Kata Tjuta National Park visitors and staff.
Committed to education, Hezekiel takes bush trips with younger Anangu to transfer knowledge and train them to gain employment at the park. He is involved in the Junior Rangers school program and interpretation programs at the cultural centre. Hezekiel speaks numerous Aboriginal Languages and teaches language and Tjkurpa stories to visitors and youth.
A relation of famous artist Albert Namatjita, Hezekiel is an artist himself and has sold several works through Walkatjara Art.
Caring for Country – Bunya Bunya Country Aboriginal Corporation
Bunya Bunya Country Aboriginal Corporation is a small group started by traditional owners that has been involved in rejuvenation work on Biodiversity hot spot, Bli Bli for the last eight years.
The main concerns for the site include extensive land clearing and river bank erosion which means the loss of mangroves, fish, mammal and bird habitat and greater sedimentation of the Maroochy River Estuary.
One inspiring project has been the rehabilitation of the mangrove on the Maroochy Estuary to benefit fish habitat and bank stabilisation. As well as providing consistent and rewarding employment, the shared love for fishing between the Kabi Kabi people, canefarmers and landowners has made this a very successful project.
The Bli Bli landscape has been a challenge for resource management, but the dedication of Bunya Bunya Country Aboriginal Corporation and their partners has seen positive changes for the waters, the wildlife and the people or the area.
Youth of the Year – Benson Saulo
Benson Saulo has the ability to engage and encourage not only youth but people of all ages.
A born leader, Benson was the captain of his primary school and at age 15, he gained a Traineeship with the ANZ Bank through the Aboriginal Employment Strategy.
Benson was the first Indigenous Australian youth to be elected as the Australian Youth Delegate to the 66th session of the United Nations General Assembly in 2011.
In April this year, Benson became the National Director for the Indigenous Australian Youth Leadership Academy.
Benson has a bright future ahead of him and may one day pursue politics, but for now, he has great plans to gain more recognition of Indigenous youth achievements and aspirations within Australia and around the world.
Artist of the Year – Stephen Page
Stephen Page is a descendant of the Nunukul people and the Munaldjali clan of the Yugambeh tribe from southeast Queensland. As the director of Bangarra Dance Theatre and a leading choreographer, Stephen has been a major contributor to Australia’s cultural landscape for 21 years.
Graduating for NAISDA in 1983, Stephen began his career dancing with the Sydney Dance Company and in 1991 was appointed Artistic Director of Bangarra Dance Theatre.
Among countless memorable works with Bangarra which have become highlights in Australian performing arts, Bangarra’s 20th Anniversary production Fire – a retrospective saw Stephen receive the 2010 Helpmann Award for Best Choreography.
Stephen has also choreographed for the Australian Ballet and the feature film The Sapphires as well as directing the Indigenous sections of the 2000 Sydney Olympic Games Opening and Closing Ceremonies.
Significantly, Stephen was named New South Wales Australian of the Year in 2008 for his dedication to bringing cultures together though performing arts and developing the next generation of Indigenous storytellers.
Scholar of the Year – Sarah Bourke
Sarah Bourke knew from a young age that she wanted to attend university. With the support of her family and her commitment to her academic pursuits, she has had the opportunity to follow her dreams.
At Radford College in Canberra, Sarah’s academic talent was evident. She was listed on the 2002 Radford College Academic Honour Roll and in 2007 was selected to attend the National Youth Science Forum at the Australian National University.
Sarah went on to complete a double degree in science and arts at the Australian National University and is now completing the Honours Program, researching biological anthropology from an Aboriginal perspective. While at university, Sarah received many scholarships and awards. This year Sarah received the Neville Bonner Memorial Scholarship and Sally White-Diane Barwick Award.
On top of her studies, Sarah finds time for fundraising, volunteer work and mentoring other students.
Sarah’s goal is to become a leader in her field and make lasting changes to how governments, organisations and individuals address improving the health of all Indigenous Australians.
Apprentice of the Year – Michael Clinch
Michael Clinch has shown commitment and dedication to achieve his dream of becoming a motor mechanic.
Growing up in Koonibba Aboriginal Community in South Australia, Michael was inspired by his grandfather who told him he could be anything he wanted to be if he put his mind to it and was committed. Michael watched his grandfathers and uncles fixing cars for the community with pride and passion, and from a young age, he knew he wanted to do the same.
Michael recently completed his apprenticeship as a motor mechanic with Repco in Adelaide. Bright and motivated, Michael rarely missed any days of his apprenticeship despite living more than 25 kilometres away and needing to rely on public transport to get there.
As well as completing his apprenticeship, Michael also cemented his position in the North Adelaide Football league.
Michael is a loving father and partner and an inspirational role model to the Koonibba Aboriginal Community.
Sportsperson of the Year – Vanessa Wilson
Vanessa Wilson is a star of the Netball South Australia League Association, regarded as one of the benchmark state competitions in Australia.
She started playing netball at age 10 at the Garville Club, gained All Australian Honours as a state school girls player by 1996, and captained the Garville State League Reserves Side to a premiership in 2001.
Vanessa is known for her natural ability, calmness and intuitiveness on the court. She has gained a string of netball achievements, including being a key contributor to the Oakdale Club claiming their first premiership win in 2009.
Vanessa wanted to spread her passion for netball by encouraging participation in the sport. She was a driving force in establishing the first South Australian Nunga* Junior Netball Corporation where she is program director and head coach in the junior development programs.
Sportsperson of the Year – Joshua Robinson
Joshua Robinson was born in Toowoomba, Queensland. At only 15 years old, he is already a gifted sportsman and has been representing Queensland in athletics since 2005.
This year at the National Youth Championships in Sydney, Joshua took out five gold medals and set a new state record, running the 400 metre sprint in just 49.31 seconds.
His immediate goal is to compete in the athletics world junior championships in London next year.
As well as a gifted runner, Joshua was recently signed to Manly Sea Eagles NRL team, with three other clubs also competing to sign the young fullback.
Already a sporting hero in his state, Joshua is working towards representing Australia at future Commonwealth and Olympic games.
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