News
Mildura's Koori achievers recognised
Wed, 31 Jul 2013 06:12:00
Mildura’s Aboriginal community has recognised the contributions of its leading citizens, in an awards night ceremony to wrap up NAIDOC Week celebrations.
The highest honour of Elder of the Year was given to Aunty Janine Wilson, who has given decades of work to her community.
The Outstanding Achievement Award was presented to 20 year old Travis Philp, who is a trainee with YMCA, but is developing his leadership potential through community and youth leadership activities.
Young Brazilian Jiu Jitzu champion Shantelle Thomson received the sports person of the year award, and the well-known performance group Murray Paaka Hope Dancers received the performing arts award.
About 120 community-members attended the awards night at the Mildura Golf Club functions centre.
“It’s been a fantastic NAIDOC celebration – just a really positive and happy month of celebration of our community and our Koori culture,” said Mallee District Aboriginal Services’ Mildura NAIDOC co-ordinator Ada Peterson.
“The awards night in particular allowed us to recognise the contributions and commitment of some really special people who have taken us forward, and others who are developing into leaders of our community for the future.”
The awards night was the highlight of what has been a hugely-successful 2013 NAIDOC celebration, which began with a flag raising on July 8. Events included community activities in the Langtree Mall, a family film night, basketball day, the first Welcome Baby to Country ceremony, celebrations in schools and a family fun day at Nowingi Place, attended by about 1000 people.
“It was the busiest calendar of NAIDOC activities we’ve ever held and it was a huge amount of work for our committee-members,” Ms Peterson said.
“But it’s great to see a really positive result. We had record crowds to all our events – and people just enjoyed the occasion.”
Ms Peterson said organisers were pleased more non-Aboriginal people were taking the chance NAIDOC Week offered to increase their understanding of Koori culture.
“It’s a chance to learn more about our art, dance and storytelling and more people of all backgrounds are getting involved every year. We are loving that,” she said.
Ms Peterson said the support of Mildura Rural City Council and the Mildura Arts Centre had been a key aspect of the success of this year’s celebrations.
“Flags and banners installed along Deakin Avenue made everyone aware that it was NAIDOC week and set the tone for the month,” Ms Peterson said.
“It was a real bonus that Mildura Arts Centre was able to organise Aboriginal opera star Deborah Cheetham to work with the talented young performers we have in our community, as well as to be here for our celebrations.”
Details of the award winners:
Janine Wilson – Elder of the Year
Janine always makes time to honor her role as a community Elder of the Latji Latji peoples and regularly performs the Welcome to Country at public events. She has been a strong advocate against family violence in the Aboriginal community and advocated at local, regional and State level to bring about change in relation to the impact of family violence on women and children.
Janine is involved in the Integrated Family Violence Committee; Local and Regional Aboriginal Justice Advisory Committees; Inter Department Committee; Mildura Rural City Council Safety Committee; Koori Family Violence Police Protocols; Meminar Ngangg Gimba Project Control Group.
Travis Philp – Outstanding Achievement
Travis is currently a trainee with the YMCA, and has been given outstanding feedback from his host employers, including Mildura Primary School, St Joseph’s College and the Department of Justice. Travis is also engaged in several community leadership and youth leadership development activities. He is a community-minded young man with excellent leadership skills and potential.
Shantelle Thompson – Sports Person of the Year
Brazilian Jiu Jitzu champion Shantelle will compete at the World titles in her sport in California in November this year. As a proud Barkindji woman and mother of three, the elite sportswoman has a long-term goal to combine her education in secondary teaching and sports nutrition with developing healthy lifestyle programs within the Mildura community to address mental, spiritual, social and physical health. Shantelle has worked alongside NSW police as a youth worker, VIYAC committee member and as part of MDAS’s What’s Killing Our Mob? quit smoking television commercials.
Murray Paaka Hope Dancers – Performing Artist of the Year
The Murray Paaka group has been performing at community events throughout the region, and the award recognises the time and effort they put into training and preparation. The members are great role-models in their peer groups and represent the next generation that will ensure traditional culture is not lost to the local community.