“There’s no doubt this has been a tough year, with bushfires and coronavirus taking their toll on Aboriginal communities.”
“NAIDOC Week may be postponed, but we’re still taking the opportunity to maintain community connections and celebrate Aboriginal culture.”
“The event will be more than just good fun – it’s a chance to highlight the talented performers right across the country and provide a lifeline to the struggling arts industry.”
Victorian Minister for Aboriginal Affairs Gabrielle Williams announced a variety performance event will be live streamed on Saturday – what would have been the penultimate day of the landmark week-long celebration.
“This year’s NAIDOC theme – ‘Always Was, Always Will Be’, is particularly apt and relevant in this unprecedented time and the rescheduling is aimed at protecting our Elders and those in our communities with chronic health issues from the disastrous impacts of COVID-19.
We would like to recognise and acknowledge the work of our affiliates and our 143 Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Organisations (ACCHOs) have put in during this pandemic to protect our communities and ensure our culture will live on.”
(NACCHO) Chair Donnella Mills says postponing NAIDOC Week 2020 from July to November this year was a small price to pay for protecting our people and safeguarding our culture.
The Victorian Government is putting together a star-studded virtual concert to celebrate Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander culture following the postponement of NAIDOC Week.
The Vic NAIDOC 2020 Concert: Always Was, Always Will Be
Will be held at Hamer Hall and while closed to the public, Victorians can live stream all the action from 6.30pm AEST on the Victoria Together website and other social platforms
The concert will be hosted by comedians Shiralee Hood and Dion Williams and feature artists including Uncle Archie Roach, Troy Cassar-Daley, Allara, Lady Lash and Mau Power.
NAIDOC Week was scheduled to be held from 5 to 12 July this year, but for the first time in its 64-year history, has been postponed due to the coronavirus pandemic.
It is traditionally marked each July to honour and pay tribute to Aboriginal culture, history and achievement, with celebrations held across the country.
It is now expected to be scheduled in November.
The Government is investing $150,000 to hold the virtual concert, with support from the Victorian Aboriginal community and the arts sector, including Arts Centre Melbourne.
Part 2
Join CAAMA Music July 10 for a very special set from Paul Ah Chee – Live from the CAAMA Studio. From this gig you can expect to hear some of his new material from his upcoming solo proejct as well as some stripped back Amunda classics.
Singer-songwriter Archie Roach, recipient of a Lifetime Contribution Award for Healing the Stolen Generations at Tuesday night’s Deadly Awards, says new Prime Minister Tony Abbott needs to prove he is serious about indigenous Australia.
FULL list below 2013 DEADLY AWARDS – THE WINNERS
‘‘I don’t know what to think about Tony Abbott. He reckons he wants to work with indigenous people but only time will tell if we are able to work with this man and his Government and bring about some real change.’’
Roach’s work focused an international spotlight on the stolen generations and did much to mobilise Australia into action.
Roach says the Northern Territory intervention remains a ‘‘sore point’’ for indigenous people and he also wants to see Australia’s first people recognised in the constitution. Indigenous people should have also have a say in who is considered genuine asylum seekers: ‘‘People who are sincere. We know there are genuine people fleeing war torn countries who have no hope,’’ Roach said.
Roach, who suffered a stroke in 2010 and had surgery for lung cancer in 2011, also won a Deadly last night at the Sydney Opera House for indigenous album of the year, for Into the Bloodstream. “I’m just happy to be able to make music at this stage of my career, so it’s a great honour to be recognised in this way,” Roach said.
Deadlys organisers said Roach’s contributions to his people “are deep, long-lasting and real . . . his work focused an international spotlight on the stolen generations and did much to mobilise Australia into action”.
NSW Magistrate Pat O’Shane. Photo: Wade Laube
One of indigenous Australia’s highest honours, the Marcia Langton award for lifetime achievement in leadership, went to controversial retired NSW magistrate Pat O’Shane.
Ms O’Shane, a Kunjandji woman, was the first woman to head a ministry (the NSW Department of Aboriginal Affairs in 1981) and the first Aboriginal barrister and magistrate in Australia. Ms O’Shane, 72, retired from the Local Court of NSW this year, after a 26-year career on the bench.
Deadlys organisers said she “blazed a path for others to follow . . . she is a genuine and inspiring role model for others”.
Ms O’Shane is also the subject of an unresolved Judicial Commission investigation into many of her decisions as a magistrate.
Pop singer Jessica Mauboy, of Darwin, repeated her 2012 success by again winning the female artist of the year/single of the year double, this time for Something’s Got a Hold on Me, which is the theme song for this year’s NRL season. Country singer Troy Cassar-Daley was male artist of the year.
The Sapphires, which has so far made $20.4 million worldwide, was named film of the year, while cast member Deborah Mailman was named best female actor.
The acclaimed television drama series Redfern Now was TV show of the year, while one of the program’s lead actors, Luke Carroll, was named best male actor.
Best hip-hop group was Melbourne’s Yung Warriors, while hip-hop duo Stik n Move, from Queanbeyan, picked up the the most promising new talent in music award.
Other major arts awards went to Steve Mullawalla Dodd (Jimmy Little lifetime achievement award for music), Brenda Croft (visual artist of the year), Ella Havelka (dancer of the year) and singer-songwriter Shellie Morris (excellence in cultural advancement). Traditional Healers of Central Australia: Ngangkari won the published book prize.
2013 DEADLY AWARDS – THE WINNERS
Music
MOST PROMISING NEW TALENT IN MUSIC -Stik n Move
SINGLE RELEASE OF THE YEAR – Jessica Mauboy, Something’s Got a Hold on Me
ALBUM OF THE YEAR -Archie Roach, Into the Bloodstream
BAND OF THE YEAR – Street Warriors
MALE ARTIST OF THE YEAR -Troy Cassar-Daley
FEMALE ARTIST OF THE YEAR -Jessica Mauboy
HIP HOP ARTIST OF THE YEAR – Yung Warriors
Sport
MOST PROMISING NEW TALENT -Mariah Williams
AFL PLAYER OF THE YEAR – Adam Goodes
NRL PLAYER OF THE YEAR – Johnathan Thurston
FEMALE SPORTSPERSON OF THE YEAR -Ashleigh Barty
MALE SPORTSPERSON OF THE YEAR – Daniel Geale
Arts
DANCER OF THE YEAR – Ella Havelka
VISUAL ARTIST OF THE YEAR – Brenda Croft
MALE ACTOR OF THE YEAR -Luke Carroll (Redfern Now)
FEMALE ACTOR OF THE YEAR -Deborah Mailman (The Sapphires)
FILM OF THE YEAR – The Sapphires
TELEVISION SHOW OF THE YEAR – Redfern Now
PUBLISHED BOOK OF THE YEAR – NPY Women’s Council Aboriginal Corporation
(Traditional Healers of Central Australia: Ngangkari)
Community
EXCELLENCE IN HEALTH -Professor Pat Dudgeon
EXCELLENCE IN EDUCATION -Deadly Sista Girlz and the David Wirrpanda Foundation
HEALTH WORKER OF THE YEAR -Leonie Morcome, Biripi Aboriginal Medical Service
EXCELLENCE IN EMPLOYMENT -Koori Job Ready
COMMUNITY BROADCASTER OF THE YEAR -John Harding, 3CR
EXCELLENCE IN CULTURAL ADVANCEMENT – Shellie Morris
SCIENTIST OR SCIENCE PROJECT OF THE YEAR -Gerry Turpin
EXCELLENCE IN HEALTH THROUGH THE PROMOTION OF HEALTHY AND SMOKE
FREE LIFESTYLES -Rewrite Your Story Campaign, developed by Puiyurti (Don’t Smoke) Tackling Tobacco Program
JOURNALISM STORY OF THE YEAR – NITV News, Shayden and Junaid Thorne in Saudi Arabia
Hall of Fame
THE ELLA AWARD FOR LIFETIME ACHIEVEMENT IN SPORT – Adam Goodes
THE JIMMY LITTLE AWARD FOR LIFETIME ACHIEVEMENT IN MUSIC -Steve Dodd
THE MARCIA LANGTON AWARD FOR LIFETIME ACHIEVEMENT IN LEADERSHIP -Pat O’Shane
THE LIFETIME CONTRIBUTION AWARD FOR HEALING THE STOLEN GENERATIONS -Archie Roach