Yandaarra Aunty Grace Roberts Community Awards 2023 Winners Announced

Published on 04 July 2023

L-R back row: Cr Paul Amos, Tory Paasi, Tyson Feguson, Aunty Michelle Sinclair, Jenny Hurley, Aunty Deb Dootson. L-R front row: Cr Jonathan Cassell, Darryll Lockwood, Matthew Montgomery, Zayden Parry, Isaiha Kelly, Jessica Mercy.

At the Norm Jordan Pavilion on Monday 3 July 2023, City of Coffs Harbour’s Yandaarra Aboriginal Advisory Committee hosted the Yandaarra Aunty Grace Roberts Community Awards.

Having run for 25 years, the Awards showcase and endorse Coffs Coast First Nations community members who are leaders in their field - people who are seen as achieving and modelling positive behaviour and goals. 

Leaders and future leaders alike were able to celebrate local Elders in keeping with this year’s NAIDOC Week theme -  For Our Elders.

The Awards have continued to grow each year to become a major event for the Coffs Coast.

The nominees and winners this year were:

Grace Roberts Memorial Community Development Award

• Steven Skinner
• Tyson Ferguson
• Angela Cowan
• AJ Perkins
• Yvette Pacey
• Tory Paasi
• Richard Widders

The winner was Tyson Ferguson.

Tyson has gone above and beyond for his clients at Galambila Aboriginal Health Service. He coordinates the diabetes clinic, specialises in chronic disease and is the cultural support officer for the GPs and registrars at the clinic. He also supports their Aboriginal health workers and is now an Aboriginal health practitioner. He is an integral staff member and a valued community member. He is regarded as an astounding person, very grounded and an important cultural member of the community.

 “I feel honoured to be nominated and selected to receive this award,” said Tyson.

“It’s an honour to be part of the names that have been added to this list in the past years. I hope I do my community justice and my family justice in upholding the award today. It gives me a purpose to keep on doing the work that I do.”

Aunty Award

• Aunty Angela Brown
• Aunty Michelle Sinclair

The winner was Aunty Michelle Sinclair.

Aunty Michelle is always willing to go above and beyond for her community and ensures their health and wellbeing are taken care of.

Uncle Award

• Uncle Jim Hurley
• Uncle Mervin Bolt
• Uncle Mark Cuddy
• Uncle Richard Widders

The winner was Uncle Jim Hurley.

Uncle Jim has worked with Galambila Aboriginal Health Service for 25 years. He is very supportive of patients and others in community and is known as a "fix it" uncle.

Aboriginal Community Organisation or Business of the Year

• One Mob Radio
• Gumbaynggirr Coffs Coast Raiders Aboriginal Corporation
• Saltwater Sistas

The joint winners were Saltwater Sistas and Gumbaynggirr Coffs Coast Raiders Aboriginal Corporation.

Rhiannon Mitchell is the founder of Saltwater Sistas, which is all about mentoring and supporting not only indigenous young females and women, but also nonindigenous young females and young women in our community.

In April 2023 Saltwater Sista's was supported by the Youth Active Rewards Program (YARP), an initiation by the Crime Prevention Unit at Coffs/Clarence Police District. Together they ran a 5 week program for 9 at risk and/or offending girls, leading to remarkable results and a change of negative behaviours.

The Coffs Coast Raiders perform great community work in bringing local men, women and children together in a positive way to promote rugby league and also healthy lifestyles, focusing on and building strong relationships.

Sports Achievement Award

• Matthew Montgomery
• Zayden Parry

The winner was Zayden Parry.

Zayden is a 10 year old boy that loves sports - in the summer he plays cricket and is super keen to be a great all-rounder. He plays in under 10s and under 12s and is aiming to play in the 3rd grade team with the men next year.

In the winter he plays soccer and is keen to hone his skills as a goalie, volunteering to play up a grade if they need extra players. He’s also a casual golfer and horse rider. He is the younger brother of last year's winner Dustin and is desperate to be as good or better than his big brother.

Arts and Cultural Achievement Award

• Darryll Lockwood
• Matty Devitt
• Danielle Burford
• Tory Paasi
• Jessica Mercy

The winner was Matty Devitt

Matty is a fabulous artist who leads by example and helps improve community relations and the quality of life of Aboriginal people in the Coffs Harbour region. Matty is a fantastic local musician, who supports the local business events and the tourism sector, with his live entertainment and performances. Matty is able to keep culture alive and at the core of his gigs and events.

Youth of the Year Award

The winner was Isaiha Kelly

Isaiha has been involved in All One Under the Sun through the Change the Story hip hop and cultural awareness program. Isaiha is currently completing year 12 at Orara High and is a rising star in terms of his talent as a hip hop artist and rapper. He is also a talented footballer and proud learner and speaker of the Gumbaynggirr language. He is also completing a school-based traineeship in tourism through Bularri Muurlay Nyanggan Aboriginal Corporation (BMNAC). He is a strong performer, writer and a community person who hopes to study to be a teacher. Definitely someone to look out for in the future and a young leader to be impressed by.

The Yandaarra Aunty Grace Roberts Community Awards are the flagship event in the NAIDOC Week celebrations on Gumbaynggirr Country. Well done to all of this year’s nominees and winners.