THE Minjerribah Moorgumpin Elders-in-Council Aboriginal Corporation of North Stradbroke, Moreton and Moreton Bay islands has won a caring for country award as part of the annual NAIDOC awards.
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Queenslanders have tonight dominated the honours list at the 2017 National NAIDOC Awards and gala ball in Cairns.
Local Government Minister Mark Furner congratulated the 10 NAIDOC award winners.
“Outstanding Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Queenslanders have been recognised in five of the 10 national awards for excellence at the NAIDOC Awards ceremony,” Mr Furner said.
“The 2017 NAIDOC Awards are national recognition of the exceptional talent, commitment and achievements of great Indigenous Queenslanders, in whom we can all be immensely proud.”
Queensland 2017 National NAIDOC Award recipients include Minjerribah Moorgumpin Elders-in-Council Aboriginal Corporation (North Stradbroke, Moreton and Moreton Bay islands)– Caring for Country Award; Latia Schefe (Brisbane) – Youth of the Year; Elverina Johnson (Yarrabah)–Artist of the Year; Sharee Yamashita(Thursday Island/ Weipa) – Apprentice of the Year; and Faye Carr (Ipswich)– Female Elder of the Year.
“Queensland also has a connection with the 2017 NAIDOC Person of the Year, talented San Antonio Spurs basketballer and three-time Olympian, Patty Mills,” Mr Furner said. “Patty’s father is a Torres Strait Islander from Thursday Island.”
Quandamooka woman and Science Minister Leeanne Enoch represented Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk at the awards.
Ms Enoch is the first Aboriginal woman elected to Queensland Parliament and Queensland's first Indigenous minister.
“It was an enormous honour to present the 2017 NAIDOC Female Elder of the Year Award to Aunty Faye Carr, an inspirational and highly respected Ipswich-based traditional custodian of Yuggera people,” Ms Enoch said.
"NAIDOC is a time to celebrate culture, family and community, and a time to showcase the great strengths of first nations peoples, such as Aunty Faye.
"This year's theme – Our Languages Matter – provides an opportunity to shine a light on the importance of language and the way in which we share and draw inspiration from our collective stories."
