Be inspired!

We all love stories, and I am finding that my appreciation of First Nations history, perspectives and cultures continues to grows as I intentionally read, listen to and watch stories made by Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples.

Be it the disturbing truth-telling of watching The Australian Wars on SBS, or the beauty and heartache of the recent release movie “Sweet As”, or discovering a new First Nations author [https://www.booktopia.com.au/blog/2023/01/19/booktopias-top-first-nations-book-recommendations-for-2023/], there are many places we can turn to intentionally look, learn and listen. Because let’s face it, no matter where we stand on the referendum issue, there is a broad ignorance across our country when it comes to First Nations stories and history. Our shared national knowledge remains shallow.

This week is NAIDOC Week – a week set aside to encourages all of us to celebrate and recognise the history, culture and achievements of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples. And it’s a week that always challenges me. It reminds me of all that I don’t know and how that such shared ignorance hinders genuine steps towards reconciliation.

This week the 2023 NAIDOC National Award recipients have been announced. From the winners” list there are a few names I recognise, but most I don’t. And yet as I read about people like Aunty Dr Naomi Mayers OAM and Professor Kelvin Kong, I realise I am so much the richer by engaging with their inspiring stories.

Aunty Dr Mayers has given her life to First Nations health, having founded and worked at Aboriginal Health Services [AHS] in Redfern for 45 years. She guided the transformation of the AMS from a small shop-front into a national network of health services. And Aunty Dr Mayers was also a founding member of The Sapphires, the ground-breaking all-Aboriginal music group from country Victoria that gained international recognition for their soulful harmonies and powerful performances.

And then there’s Professor Kong, a Worimi man who grew up on country in Port Stephens, graduated from the University of New South Wales to become Australia’s first Indigenous surgeon. He credits his mother, Grace Kinsella, a pioneering Indigenous registered nurse, for inspiring him and his older sisters, twins Marlene and Marilyn, to become doctors. Their father, Kong Cheok Seng, a Malaysian Chinese man, is also a doctor. An amazing family, with a wonderful story to tell!

So here’s a NAIDOC Week invitation. I have listed below the names of the ten 2023 award winners and a link to each of their stories. You may want to join me this week and read each of the stories of these humble yet passionate First Nations women and men.

And these are much more than success stories. They are stories of courage, resilience, determination, servanthood, and at time sheer resistance. Each of these worthy recipients have faced many more hurdles and challenges than come the way of most white Australians.

Be inspired by the stories that follow!

Lifetime Achievement Award: Aunty Dr Naomi Mayers OAM

https://www.naidoc.org.au/award-finalist/aunty-dr-naomi-mayers-oam

Person of the Year: Professor Kelvin Kong

https://www.naidoc.org.au/award-finalist/professor-kelvin-kong

Female Elder: Aunty Dr Matilda House-Williams

https://www.naidoc.org.au/award-finalist/aunty-dr-matilda-house-williams

Male Elder: William Tilmouth

https://www.naidoc.org.au/award-finalist/william-tilmouth

Sportsperson Award: Donnell Wallam

https://www.naidoc.org.au/award-finalist/donnell-wallam

Youth Award: Courtney Burns