Eleven Indigenous Australians honoured in 2009 National NAIDOC Awards

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11 July 2009

Statement by National NAIDOC Committee co-chairpersons Anne Martin and Ben Mitchell

On behalf of the National NAIDOC Committee, it is with great honour that we announce the 2009 National NAIDOC Award winners.

The National NAIDOC Awards pay tribute to the outstanding contributions that Indigenous individuals make to their communities, chosen fields and the broader Australian society.

Once again, the committee received many nominations from across Australia and electing award winners was a very difficult task.

It is a testament to the high quality of these nominations that the committee decided to award 11 Indigenous Australians with National NAIDOC Awards, including joint winners for both the Female Elder of the Year and Male Elder of the Year awards. 

The committee awarded a Lifetime Achievement Award to Professor Lowitja O'Donoghue for her distinguished leadership in Indigenous affairs and her epic contribution in the battle for the rights of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people.

The 2009 National NAIDOC Award winners are:

  • Person of the Year: Professor Larissa Behrendt (Sydney)
  • Lifetime Achievement: Professor Lowitja O'Donoghue, AC, CBE (Adelaide)
  • Elder of the Year (Female): Doris Eaton (Perth) and Elsie Heiss (Sydney) - joint winners
  • Elder of the Year (Male): Frank H Lampard (Adelaide) and Reginald Roy Knox (Brisbane) - joint winners
  • Youth of the Year: Gemma Benn (Darwin)
  • Scholar of the Year: Chelsea Bond (Brisbane)
  • Apprentice of the Year: Danny Sebasio (Thursday Island, Torres Strait)
  • Artist of the Year: Wayne Quilliam (Melbourne)
  • Sportsperson of the Year: Andrew McLeod (Adelaide)

Our warmest congratulations go to all the winners this year.

Last night's national ball and awards ceremony in Brisbane was a major highlight of a vibrant and diverse week of NAIDOC activities across Australia. The national ball is getting bigger by the year.

More than 1300 people attended the showcase event - tickets sold out within a week of going on sale. Guests included Her Excellency the Governor General, Ms Quentin Bryce, who presented Lowitja O'Donoghue with her Lifetime Achievement Award, and the Honourable Jenny Macklin MP, Minister for Families, Housing, Community Services and Indigenous Affairs.

The night featured a spectacular line-up of Indigenous talent, including country music star Troy Cassar-Daley, Brisbane-based band Banawurun, Melbourne singer-songwriter Dan Sultan, performers from the Aboriginal Centre for Performing Arts in Brisbane and Sydney's Bangarra Dance Theatre, as well as presenters Deborah Mailman and Ernie Dingo.

Once again congratulations to the National NAIDOC Poster Competition winner, Luke Mallie for his vibrant image based on this year's theme Honouring Our Elders, Nurturing Our Youth.

We are very happy that NAIDOC - now in its 52nd year - continues to grow with an ever increasing number of local activities being organised across Australia, with the increasing involvement of non-Indigenous agencies and individuals.

NAIDOC is at its most meaningful at the local level, with many events recognising the contribution of the unsung workers in our communities across Australia. This year, NAIDOC has paid tribute to the unique role of our elders, who provide guidance, care and education to the younger generations.

The National NAIDOC Committee thanks all those volunteers and community members who have invested significant time and energy in making NAIDOC successful again this year.

The committee would like also to recognise the support of the Australian Government in supporting NAIDOC events across the nation.

It was announced that Melbourne will be the focus city for national NAIDOC celebrations in 2010.

For any additional information please email info@naidoc.org.au.