The recent NAIDOC Perth Awards honoured a remarkable line up of extraordinary Indigenous people in Western Australia.
Female Elder of the Year:
Jane Jones is a proud Nyoongar woman from the Willman, Ballardong and Whadjuk Language groups. Her parents are Jimmy Kickett and Penelope Stack who taught her about love, kindness and the importance of caring for family.
These values are the foundation of which she has lived her life and based her career of caring for people as a Nurse.
Ms. Jones has been a nurse for 50 years, having begun her career when she was 17 years old. She has worked tirelessly to address the health of the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples of Perth since her career began.
Her passion and heart lie in providing exceptional research-based health care to her beloved Ngoongar people.
Ms Jones is also a role model to fellow nurses and midwives, community members and her family who recognise her for the love and pride she has for her family, culture and profession.
Male Elder of the Year:
Jim Morrison is a Minang-Goreng Noongar Elder, a Traditional Custodian of WA's pristine southern coast who has passed his strong Aboriginal values to following generations of his extended family.
He has been a leader in pivotal Aboriginal community advancement roles for over five decades, working for the rights of the Stolen Generations and their families; Aboriginal child protection; the tragic mental health, justice and suicide issues in his community.
He has won the John Curtin Medal for services to the community and partnered in winning seven awards in the virtual and Elder Survivor story augmented conservation of Aboriginal Missions in WA.
Mr Morrison is the current Chair of the WA Stolen Generations Aboriginal Corporation, a founding member of Reconciliation WA and the architect and initial manager of Yokai Healing Our Spirit.
Outstanding person of the Year:
Doreen is the matriarch of her family, a mother of five children, a grandmother and great grandmother, at the same time, being a foster parent caring for more than ten children. Throughout her lifetime, she has obtained employment in various disciplines.
Throughout her lifetime, she has obtained employment in various disciplines. She is an Elder, a Researcher, a Teacher, an Advocate for women and community, an Author both in and also on podiums, at workshops, at the highest tables of decision-making, amongst her community, and amongst her family with the many stories she has shared.
Ms. Nelson has sacrificed so much throughout her life to assist others, she has succeeded against adversity and has remained steadfast to overcome many of the struggles that she has faced over these decades.
Including growing up on Native Reserves and living in poverty, a lack of educational opportunities early in life, the loss of a baby, later the forced removal of a child, enduring family domestic violence whilst also striving for safe environments for herself and children,
During her marriage she lived in a number of locations in WA, NT and SA, she returned home to WA after the loss of her husband of 34 years.
Community Person of the year:
Lorraine Pryor is a Whadjuk Noongar Woman with connections to Ballardong and Gnaala Karla Booja. As a mother and grandmother, she now gives back to community through sharing her lived experiences.
Ms Pryor is a survivor of domestic violence and substance abuse that led her to spending 7 years in and out of incarceration. It is this experience that has changed Lorraine's life forever as she promised herself that she will never go down this path again and she has made some life changing decisions.
Ms Pryor currently works as a plant controller with BHP for almost ten years and has continued to build on her knowledge and education.
She's graduating from the Women's Indigenous Leadership Program Yorga Djenna Bidi, Graduating in a Certificate 4 in Mental Health and receiving the Excellence Award and Graduating in a Diploma of Mental Health and receiving the Yvonne Burgu Award.
Whilst working full-time Lorraine uses her experience by helping our women and in 2022 established 'Voice of Hope' that is a non-for-profit organisation committed and dedicated to our Indigenous women inside.
By delivering workshops to heal them through connection to culture, identity, language, relationships with family and community to name a few.
Nursing and Midwifery of the Year:
Jenna Greaves is a proud Yamatji Naaguja woman with connections to the Midwest of Western Australia.
Ms Greaves was raised in Kwinana, and started her nursing journey at Marr Moorditj receiving her Enrolled Nursing before completing her registered Nursing through Deakin University.
She worked at the medical unit at FSH as a graduate nurse, before embarking on Child and adolescent Health nursing which is her current specialty.
Following a stint at Child and Adolescent Community Health she landed her dream job at South Coastal Babingurr Mia, starting out as the Child health Nurse then progressing to Clinical Coordinator, she is proud to work with families in our community.
Ms Greaves is committed to supporting self-empowerment to young indigenous women and their families at a time in their lives that can be particularly challenging.
Program of the Year:
'Self-Made Indigenous Corporation' was founded by husband and wife, Aaron and Quintilla Sutton. Their board members consist of Warumungu, Jarwoyn, Noongar and Baardi people who bring personal experience, a diverse range of knowledge, visionary thinking and a shared commitment for driving a grassroots perspective to make a difference in their communities.
Through the Deadly Minds Programs they develop strong connections with Indigenous youth encouraging them to use art to relieve stress and anxiety, improving their mental health and well-being.
They provide a safe space for them to open up, explore their feelings and help them to self regulate through art. Deadly Minds has run their sessions in high schools, universities, at events and since the end of last year at Banksia Hill and Casuarina's Unit 18.
Education award of the year:
Dylan is a Wadjak and Ballardong Noongar man and currently runs his own business called Kalyakoorl. His aim is to ensure Noongar language continues into the future - forever.
Mr Collard studied a Bachelor of Laws and Bachelor of Arts at UWA but on graduating realised he had a passion for educating and working with young people.
He did the Teach for Australia program where he was placed at Balga SHS whilst completing a Master of Teaching. He initially taught English and History and Politics. It was there Mr Collard became interested in teaching Noongar, following in the footsteps of his Aunty Donnelle.
After four years at Balga SHS, Mr Collard then taught at Wellard primary for two years before deciding he wanted to be able to share some of his language on a wider basis and as such formed Kalyakoorl.
Youth Award of the Year:
Taimania Jones, proud Noongar Yamatji woman from Menang Country, moved to Perth in 2016 from Mount Barker.
She has always had a passion for volunteering and contributing to my community.
She began umpiring at the age of 12 and over the last 11 years have been involved in Country Championships, State Championships, the Western Australian Basketball League, Indigenous National Basketball Tournament, and ongoing Aboriginal carnivals.
Taimania has refereed and coached for three years, with the goal of getting more Indigenous kids and adults involved in refereeing through education and participation.
Sportsperson of the Year:
Isiah Wuruki born and raised in Port Hedland is a proud young Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander man with family connections with the Palyku people of Nullagine, Nyikina people of Derby and Yam and Boigu Islands in the Torres Strait.
Isiah is an exceptionally talented young athlete that excels across all sporting arenas but his main love is rugby. Isiah first played rugby league at the young age of four, leading to a desire and aspiration to pursue league as a potential career.
This passion extends to touch football and rugby union. First named on the state rugby squad in 2019 whilst still living in Port Hedland, a hard decision was made to make the move to Perth to attend Guildford Grammar School.
Since living in Perth, Isiah has seen much success at club and state representative level.
However, the past 12 months saw selection to five state title teams in both junior and senior competitions playing touch football and rugby league, even being selected as most valuable player in his open senior mixed team.
Three national competitions that took him to Brisbane, Wagga Wagga, and most recently Coffs Harbour.
Business award of the Year:
Boorloo Aboriginal Cultural Experiences. Olman Walley is traditional owner of the Whadjuk Noongar region who has dedicated his career to sharing and promoting Noongar culture locally and internationally through performance, tourism and education.
As a small business owner, educator and performing artist, Olman is passionate about improving the awareness, revival and maintenance of Noongar culture here in the south west.
Empowerment award:
Shayne Jacobs, Kylah Hansen and Amaia Greaves-Colbung.
Shayne Jacobs a young Noongar/Yamatji girl who lives in Kwinana and is a year seven student at Rockingham Senior High school. Shayne loves all sports and has always been a competitive person and very much a team player and is always considerate of others, both on and off the field.
Having started playing netball from a very young age and has excelled over the years, she continues to play with the same group of girls today. When she reached nine Shayne began her basketball journey.
Shayne puts her all into her sports and she has recently been selected to play WABL (Western Australia Basketball League) for U14's for the Rockingham Flames.
Shayne is a natural sports person and a passionate and supportive teammate.
Kylah Hansen a young Noongar/Yamatji/Banjima girl from Rockingham. She is a year seven student at Kolbe Catholic College. Kylah has a huge passion for sport and competes in Little Athletics, Netball and AFL Football.
She has competed in Little Athletics since she was six years old and has won many trophies and medals, broken a record, and has competed at State levels in High Jump and long-distance running.
She has played Netball for four years and last season represented Rockingham Districts at the Fuel to Go Championships in the U12s where her team won their divisions Grand Final and she earned an MVP award.
Kylah is in her second year of playing AFL and is already showing great potential, she is a naturally gifted athlete and plans to continue playing sports and hopefully one makes it to an elite level.
Amaia Greaves Colbung is a proud Yamatji Naaguja and Menang girl. Amaia is in year seven at Baldivis Secondary College. Amaia plays football and participates in athletics but her passion is netball.
She has represented Rockingham in Division 1 for the past two years at the fuel to go association championships. Amaia has also won club MVP the past two years for her club netball team as well as playing club finals every year since starting juniors.
Amaia aspires to one day represent her country in netball and play for the West Coast Fever as a defender like her idol Sunday Aryang.
Recently the three girls flew to the Gold Coast to play in the Budgies Indigenous Netball Carnival representing WA in the U14s Gold Team.
They secured a spot on the U/13 National team where they will compete on the Gold Coast and Fiji this coming September.
Artist award of the Year:
Shannon Hart-Cole, known by artist name HARTCOLE, was born in Whadjuk Noongar Boodya with family roots heading down south to Kaniyang Country.
He has been coping and struggling with mental health issues since he was a kid after the passing of his mother. He believes writing and creating music will deliver positivity and strength to people going through similar experiences either past or present.
Hartcole has found himself in life being an Ambassador for AIME (Australian Indigenous Mentoring Experience), helping create a book for Indigenous Kids with disabilities through (WAIS), which is known as Shannon's Story. Recently he was a part of Mushroom Group's First Nations Pathway Program where he flew to Melbourne working with industry professionals and other First Nations Artists such as Nooky and Emily Wurramara.
