Victoria Premier Ted Baillieu

Victoria Minister for Aboriginal Affairs Jeanette Powell

Coalition Govt Honours Indigenous Victorians With Nation’s First-Ever Indigenous Honour Roll

Victor P Taffa

The Victorian Coalition Government will formally honour Victoria’s outstanding Indigenous people through Australia’s first-ever Indigenous Honour Roll.

Premier Ted Baillieu launched the opening of nominations for the inaugural Victorian Indigenous Honour Roll standing alongside the statue of Sir Douglas Nicholls KCVO OBE – the first Aboriginal to be appointed to a vice-regal office – in Parliament Gardens today.

“Sir Doug remains a great inspiration for all Victorians as a pioneering campaigner for reconciliation, Australia’s first Indigenous Governor and the first Aboriginal to be knighted.” Mr. Baillieu said.

“This is a fitting location to launch the Victorian Indigenous Honour Roll, which will acknowledge Indigenous Victorians who have made significant and lasting contributions to Indigenous communities, Victoria, Australia or internationally.” Mr. Baillieu said.

“The Victorian Indigenous Honour Roll is the first of its kind in Australia and we are very proud to lead the nation to properly recognise the achievements of Indigenous Victorians.”

“It is important that Victorians learn more about many of our remarkable and exceptional Aboriginal Victorians, and those future generations of Indigenous and non-Indigenous Victorians have suitable role models.”

Mr. Baillieu also presented the first two nominations for the Victorian Indigenous Honour Roll, nominating Sir Doug and famed Indigenous artist and Wurundjeri elder William Barak to be considered as inductees for the 2011 selection.

“These men have made significant and lasting contributions to the lives of Indigenous people in Victoria. Their legacy continues to live on today and their tireless effort to advance the position of Indigenous Victorians is an important chapter in our shared Victorian history.” Mr. Baillieu said.

Minister for Aboriginal Affairs Jeanette Powell said the Victorian Indigenous Honour Roll is part of the Victorian Government’s broader commitment to Closing the Gap between Indigenous and non-Indigenous Victorians.

“We want to develop real and tangible solutions; ways in which we can achieve recognition and reconciliation.” Mrs. Powell said.

“The Victorian Government intends to begin discussions with relevant sectors of the community – business, philanthropy and Indigenous communities and the re-funded Reconciliation Victoria – to develop a Reconciliation Framework.” Mrs. Powell said.

Following responses to a discussion paper on the detail of the award process, the Victorian Indigenous Honour Roll will be open to Indigenous Victorians currently living or who have lived in Victoria.

It will recognise Indigenous Victorians who have:

• Had significant influence that has instigated change for the betterment of Indigenous and non-Indigenous people in a particular field;  

• Made lasting contributions that have benefited the Indigenous and non-Indigenous community across Victoria, Australia or internationally.

The Victorian Indigenous Honour Roll will recognise Indigenous Victorians who have made significant achievements in all fields including sports, academia, arts and culture, music, politics and community advocacy.

Indigenous Victorians can be posthumously nominated and inducted onto the Honour Roll.

As well as the opening of nominations for the Indigenous Honour Roll, the Coalition Government has also called for expressions of interest for the advisory panel for the Victorian Indigenous Honour Roll, the panel that will advise and make selections on the inductees to the Honour Roll.

The advisory panel will be made up of Indigenous people from a range of backgrounds. The advisory panel members are expected to have a strong background and understanding of Indigenous issues and culture. Individuals can nominate themselves or others for the panel.

The Victorian Indigenous Honour Roll will be permanently on display in Parliament House and on the Aboriginal Affairs Victoria website.

For more information or to make a nomination, go to www.dpcd.vic.gov.au/indigenous

VIC Minister for Aboriginal Affairs Jeanette Powell