Shialee (shy-lee) Brodie
Shialee is an artist that has worked with the Neporendi Aboriginal Forum Inc. Board of Management and the Neporendi Community Centre to paint a mural to represent all Aboriginal people in the southern community. Her beautiful mural can be seen at Neporendi Aboriginal Community Centre in Old Reynella. Her work also includes working with primary school students and teaching them about culture through art.
Gavin Malone, cultural geographer and land steward, and Karl Winda Telfer Burka (Senior Man), Mullawirra Meyunna (Dry Forest People)
L50 is a private, bi-cultural, ecological, and cultural regeneration project near McLaren Vale where a section of the Maslin Creek reed swamp is being regenerated, and a grassy woodland re-established at a place that is an ancient Kaurna campground known as Kanyanyapilla. Gavin and Karl have worked hard to create L50K as a place of bi-cultural significance and learning for the community.
Tamia Blackwell
Working as a teacher at the Aldinga Payinthi College as a Year 7 history teacher and also working with the Year 12s as an Aboriginal Studies Teacher over the past seven years has seen Tamia contribute amazingly to ‘Reconciliation in the South’. She’s now exploring truth telling through teaching and learning, with and for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander students, staff, and communities.
Port Noarlunga Primary School
Anji Solomann was nominated by her principal at Port Noarlunga Primary School for her leadership in developing their Reconciliation Action Plan, although Anji requested the school receive the award acknowledging all the hard work everyone has done in making the school culturally safe and an inspiring environment to teach and learn.
Micky Barlow (Aboriginal artist a basket weaver)
Micky is a Kokatha woman, Aboriginal contemporary artist and basket weaver. Micky hosts painting, weaving and jewellery workshops in McLaren Vale. Micky also takes her workshops to schools for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Children for Cultural Classes.
Loren Kate and Nancy Bates
Nancy Bates is a Barkindji Song Woman, originating from Far Western NSW, and now residing on Kaurna Country in Adelaide. Both Loren and Nancy are songwriters, with their connection around First Nations People. Both women are local to the southern region and have performed in many concerts over the years. Their latest collaboration has been with the Cooee Concert.
Thalassa Park Trust
The trust received its award for funding and supporting staff from the City of Onkaparinga’s libraries and arts teams to deliver the council’s first Aboriginal artwork at Storybook Walk in Aberfoyle Park, inspired by the story book Frog Finds a Place by Sally Morgan, Ezekiel Kwaymullina and Dub Leffler.
Glenys Haren
Glenys was active in the Yes campaign and keeping the connections through the Uluru Statement. Glenys formed a book club, where truth telling stories are held. The books chosen are about truth telling on colonisation and first contact with Aboriginals and settlers on Kangaroo Island and the Southern Fleurieu.
Amey Lekkas
Amey Lekkas is the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander co-ordinator at Cardijn College, where they introduced male and female First Nations School Captains in 2023. This brings pride and commitment to the students.
Trevor O'Brien
Trevor is a Kaurna Elder who has worked towards Reconciliation through regular ‘Welcome to Country’ introductions, learning and teaching the Kaurna language, sharing traditional stories and understandings through listening to others experiences, understandings and feelings throughout Onkaparinga.
Ahmadiyya Muslim Women's Association (South Chapter)
The Ahmadiyya Muslim Women's South Chapter works alongside Neporendi Aboriginal Community Centre for cross-cultural connection and friendship. The Association invites the Neporendi community to their events and supports Neporendi in their activities through provision of activities like henna and calligraphy, cooking events, and pamper days.
Spirit of Unity, Maureen and Naomi
Spirit of Unity have been providing a truly heartfelt Welcome to Country, Little Mother Earth Playgroup and cultural support for a variety of programs at the Hackham Community Centre, creating an inclusive and welcoming environment for all.
Louise Shepherd, Joining Hands and Minds Network Co-Chair
Louise has been the co-chair for more than two years and a member for more than eight years. Louise is passionate about Reconciliation, is a leader in the network, and has been a valued member of the Reconciliation Week Working Group in the planning and delivery of the council’s National Reconciliation Week events.