Aboriginal Honour Roll nominations open

NOMINATIONS for individuals to be inducted into the Victorian Aboriginal Honour Roll are now open, with a call for people whose advocacy, determination and work have shaped a better and fairer society to be put forward.

Established in 2011, so far the honour roll has recognised 158 First Nations people for their work across education, health, justice, sports, the arts and community advocacy.

Recent inductees have included Uncle Ricky Baldwin, whose work at the Koorie Academy has supported generations of young people, and Aunty Iris Bysouth, a proud advocate for Stolen Generations survivors and a former Victorian Senior of the Year.

A Stolen Generations survivor, after working on farms from an early age Aunty Iris took on her first office job in the early 1980s before moving to the Commonwealth Employment Service.

She then worked at Dandenong and District Aborigines Co-Operative Limited, becoming a board and lifetime member.

She has since served the Bendigo community in many roles, including as chair of the Bendigo and District Aboriginal Corporation and as Koorie Liaison Officer at the former Malmsbury Youth Justice Centre.

Minister for Treaty and First Peoples Natalie Hutchins said the accolade celebrates the remarkable leadership of First Nations people.

“This is a chance to recognise someone whose impact deserves to be recorded and remembered,” she said.

“I encourage all Victorians to nominate a First Nations person whose work has made a difference.”

Nominations, which close on Thursday 3 October, can be made on the First Peoples – State Relations website.