Unsung heroes of the Indigenous community honoured at NAIDOC Awards

The 2010 NAIDOC Awards recently paid tribute to the contributions of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders who have endeavoured to improve their communities.

As the highlight of the 53rd NAIDOC Week, the Awards were presented in Melbourne by Deborah Mailman and Ernie Dingo.

1,100 guests attended the event including the Federal and State Ministers for Indigenous Affairs, Hon. Jenny Macklin and Hon. Richard Wynne.

The event showcased some of Australia's finest talent, with musicians Dan Sultan, Archie Roach, Dave Arden and Leah Flanagan performing on the night, along with a photography exhibition by Wayne Quilliam, 2009 NAIDOC Aboriginal Artist of the Year.

Two distinguished Aboriginal Australians were paid tribute at the event - the prominent equal rights campaigner Chicka Dixon and singer Ruby Hunter.  Archie Roach, who's been Ruby's partner since their teenage years, performed a moving song to celebrate her life.

According to NAIDOC Committee co-chairs Anne Martin and Ben Mitchell "Once again, the committee received many nominations from across Australia. Selecting award winners was a challenging but inspiring task.

"The quality of nominations was so high that the committee had to choose two winners for the Male Elder of the Year Award.

"The committee awarded the Lifetime Achievement Award to Vince Coulthard for his eminent leadership in Indigenous affairs, his dedication to promoting his culture and his contribution to the struggle for native title rights in South Australia."

For more information about the life work of Vince Coulthard, please visit his website:  www.vincecoulthard.com

NAIDOC provides more information about the Award winners at their website:
www.naidoc.org.au/NAIDOC-media-releases...