2012 NAIDOC SA Award Winners Announced

The recipients of the 2012 NAIDOC SA Awards were announced yesterday at a ceremony at the Adelaide Town Hall to celebrate the start of this year’s NAIDOC week.

“The NAIDOC SA Awards are an opportunity to celebrate Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultures and to recognise their contributions in various fields. Congratulations to all the recipients on their well-deserved awards and for their outstanding achievements,” said Acting Lord Mayor David Plumridge.

“Lord Mayor Stephen Yarwood is overseas at the moment but he sends his warmest congratulations. I’d also like to thank Dual Chair of Council’s Reconciliation Committee Yvonne Agius for doing a wonderful job as MC.”

The awards were followed by a ceremony, conducted by David and Kaurna Elder Aunty Josie Agius, to raise the Aboriginal and the Torres Strait Islander flags.

The Aboriginal flag was first raised in Victoria Square/Tarndanyangga on 9 July in 1971 in support of land rights for Aboriginal people.

In 2002, Council endorsed the permanent flying of the flag in Victoria Square/Tarndanyangga as a powerful symbol of reconciliation and hope for many Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal people throughout Australia.

After the ceremony, Vonda Last, who began singing gospel songs at an early age in small country churches and Aboriginal communities, performed ‘For Love of Country’, a song that she wrote to honour Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander diggers.

Vonda currently works with the Ngarrindjeri Miminar Kaiklun Choir and recently began working with the Elders Choir. She will also be part of Pecan Summer, Australia’s first Indigenous opera.

Other entertainment included Talina Clarke with accompanying pianist Edward Kriek, and guitarist Lucien Byfieldt.

“The events at the Town Hall have become traditional, popular annual events for NAIDOC Week and reflect Council’s continued recognition and celebration of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander culture in the city,” David said.

Chairperson of NAIDOC South Australia, Mr Tauto Sansbury and NAIDOC Ambassadors, Professor Roger Thomas and Dr Alitja Rigney presented the 2012 NAIDOC SA Awards.

This year’s theme is Spirit of the Tent Embassy: 40 Years On, celebrating the establishment of the Aboriginal Tent Embassy in 1972 by those who lived to renew the spirit of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples.

Town Hall is also hosting the annual NAIDOC Art Exhibition which will run until the 20 July in the level 1 foyer.

The exhibition is presented by Tandanya, and will help local artists reach a wider audience. This specially curated exhibition celebrates both Tandanya’s art collection and acknowledges Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander art and artists.

It features four South Australian living artists; Peter Sharrock, Ali Gumillya Baker, Burthurmarr Christopher Crebbin and Ian Willding.

Artistic and Cultural Director of Tandanya Tim Ritchie said his organisation was pleased to once again be invited to play a role in Adelaide City Council’s celebration of NAIDOC. 

“It’s a wonderful opportunity to reach new audiences. It’s the first time we’ve included works other than from our collection and the artists have loaned their work for this exhibition demonstrating a tremendous generosity of spirit,” he said.

Other NAIDOC events include a march on Friday 6 July leaving at 10.30am from Victoria Square/Tarndanyangga and heading to Elder Park for a Family Fun Day. Council has contributed to the event through the Reconciliation Grants Program.

“Our Council is a national leader in reconciliation, supporting a number of initiatives through our Reconciliation Committee and the Reconciliation Action Plan. Council also recently signed a Reconciliation Vision Statement and National Sorry Day Acknowledgement,” David said.