The inaugural Armidale Schools NAIDOC Week Education Awards has celebrated the achievements of local Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander students and staff in the lead up to National NAIDOC Week next week.
Organised by a small volunteer committee of staff from several local schools, the awards had over 90 students nominated across eight categories. Ten schools from the private, independent, and public sectors participated.
The ceremony at the Armidale Ex Services Club was standing room only, with over 200 people attending.
Anthony Green, the Aboriginal Community Liaison Officer, said the awards were envisioned as a way to celebrate students’ dedication and hard work while also inspiring others to follow in their footsteps.
“The Armidale Schools NAIDOC Awards is a great opportunity for our community to come together to celebrate academic excellence in our Aboriginal learners, leaders and educators,” he said
“Our students have been achieving in the classroom and on the sporting field and deserve the recognition for their dedication and hard work.”
Award categories included academic achievement, highly commended, achievement in sport, arts and culture.
Other awards included VET/ School-based apprenticeship, outstanding contribution by staff, the University of New England Leadership Award and the Armidale Ex-Services Memorial Club Young Person of the Year.
The names of all nominees were withheld during the voting process to ensure fairness. A panel of various community members, teaching staff, elders, and UNE academics voted for the winners based on their achievements alone.
And the students themselves ran the awards ceremony.
“That was part of the committee’s vision for the event, make it for the students, about the students, by the students, and to make sure they got to do it all in front of their families and local Aboriginal community.”
A Host of Talented Award Winners
Sophia-Rose Markham from Armidale Secondary College won the Secondary Young Person of the Year award. Among her many achievements is being a joint winner of the 2024 Armidale Zonta Club’s Award for Young Women in Public Affairs, becoming a finalist in the District Lions Youth of the Year and attending the 2024 NSW Youth Parliament.
Unfortunately, Sophia was unable to accept the award in person due to a prior engagement at the NSW Plain English Public Speaking Awards in Sydney. The high school student said she considers it a great honour to be recognised for her achievements at a local level.
“I’m honoured to receive this award, and I hope that in years to come I can continue to advocate and make tangible change in the community,” she said.
TJ Heath-Towers from Armidale City Public School won the Primary Young Person of the Year Award. He is a member of his school’s leadership team and is actively involved in a range of school activities.
His other achievements include representing Armidale City Public School in touch football, where TJ is often recognised for his sportsmanship, participating in the Home Art program, and being a member of the didgeridoo group.
TJ also won the primary school University of New England Leadership Award, while the secondary school winner was Hannah Whitton from Armidale Secondary College.
Other award winners included:
Arts and Culture Award
Georgia Froome from Young Sandon Public School
Alexis Lockwood from Armidale Secondary College, and Paicey Noakes from O’Connor Catholic College
VET/ School Based Apprenticeship
Adrian Walters from O’Connor Catholic College
Cooper Collins from Armidale Secondary College
Outstanding Contribution by a Staff Member
Carol Green from Armidale Secondary College
First Awards Event a Rousing Success
While this was the first Armidale Schools NAIDOC Week Education Awards, a spokesperson from the organising committee said there are already plans for another next year.
“These types of events do not happen without the support of local organisations and we would like to thank Armidale Ex Services Club, the University of New England, Armajun Aboriginal Health Service, Armidale Local AECG, the Department of Education and local band Terra Firma,” the spokesperson said.
“Their support meant that the students, their families, their schools and the community could come together to celebrate these wonderful achievements.”
Top Image: TJ Heath-Towers and Sophia-Rose Markham. Photo: Supplied
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