Senior Australian of the Year announced
With an ‘enduring’ commitment to her culture and country, 90-year-old Northern Territory Indigenous community leader, Laurie Baymarrwangga, cares about her culture and country. Announced as this year’s Senior Australian of the Year at the Australia of the Year awards ceremony last Thursday (26 January 2012), Ms Baymarrwangga has worked hard throughout her years.
Source: ABC
With an ‘enduring’ commitment to her culture and country, 90-year-old Northern Territory Indigenous community leader, Laurie Baymarrwangga, cares about her culture and country.
Announced as this year’s Senior Australian of the Year at the Australia of the Year awards ceremony last Thursday (26 January 2012), Ms Baymarrwangga (pictured) has worked hard throughout her years.
Just one example of her hard work was a housing project she established in the 60s which benefited generations of people. Another achievement was the establishment of the Yan-nhangu dictionary project which she established from scratch and received no funding to assist her.
Encouraging younger generations to embrace their heritage, Ms Baymarrwangga also worked closely with cultural projects including a junior Rangers and Crocodile Islands Rangers group.
The Senior Australian of the Year award showcases and celebrates the achievements of older Australians.
“In more than 90 years, Ms Baymarrwangga has almost single-handedly nurtured the intergenerational transmission of local ecological knowledge through a lifelong commitment to caring for kin, cultural and country,” Minister for Mental Health and Ageing, Mark Butler, said.
“The Senior Australian of the Year award is a wonderful opportunity to recognise that they have so much to offer, not just to friends and family, but to the wider community,” he added.
More details of the award and other Australian of the year awards for 2012, click here.
