Strong finalists in all 2011 Deadly Award categories reflect a big year of achievement for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people across Australia.
The 2011 Deadlys were launched today at the Sydney Opera House in a ceremony that featured Aboriginal dance company Descendance and performances by Casey Donovan – and a blast from a didgeridoo rather than a drum roll as the finalists were announced. View Deadlys Launch photo gallery.
Plenty of Australia’s talent turned up to support the 17th Deadly Awards led by launch host acclaimed broadcaster Rhoda Roberts and SBS’s Karla Grant.
The finalists’ list represented the year that was for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Australia. In the film category, Mad Bastards, produced by Broome’s Pigram brothers was, perhaps, not a surprise nominee, considering the film’s success across Australia.
Bec Cole’s Here I Am, a moving portrait of a mother/daughter relationship, is a finalist across two award categories. Similarly, the success in Cannes of Ivan Sens’ Toomelah is reflected in the film’s place as a finalist.
Junior Wimbledon champion Ashleigh Barty is a finalist in Female Sportsperson of the Year, and Patrick Mills, now playing in the NBA, joins the Male Sportsperson of the Year finalists.
Most Promising New Talent in Music finalist Benny Walker joins a strong line-up in this category, along with Iwantja Band, Corey Webster, Karnage & Darknis and Knowledge Bones.
Up-and-coming sporting talent across soccer, boxing, wrestling, netball and even Muay Thai holds the promise of future stars.
Health, Education, Employment and Broadcasting reveal the work that goes on behind the scenes in Aboriginal and Torres Strait communities across Australia, with three Indigenous-driven health programs coming out of the NT.
There were no surprises in the Outstanding Contribution to Literature category with finalists of the calibre of 2011 Miles Franklin Award winner Kim Scott, alongside Sally Morgan, Anita Heiss, young graphic novelist Brenton E McKenna and well-known writer Gayle Kennedy.
Executive producer and founder of the Deadlys, Gavin Jones spoke at the launch of the importance of the Deadly Awards to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders, particularly young people.
“It always amazes me that people, no matter where they are from, know about the Deadlys,” Mr Jones said.
“I’ve often wondered why the mention of the Deadly Awards always brings a knowing smile to people’s faces, Indigenous and non-Indigenous alike.
“I think it’s because of the nature of the event: above all it’s real, by the people, for the people; it recognises the incredible creative force and talent of our people and it shows that we are in control of our destiny and that despite the past, we continue to achieve great things – great things now and we will continue to achieve into the future.
“The Deadlys also aims to provide positive role models from all walks of life to young Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people around Australia.”
The Deadlys will be held at the Sydney Opera House on 27 September 2011. Voting is now open to all for the 2011 Deadlys at www.vibe.com.au
The Australian Electoral Commission’s Indigenous Electoral Participation Program officers will be distributing a reply-paid how to vote card for the Deadlys this year, in areas where officers are located across Australia, together with distribution of the reply-paid voting card in Deadly Vibe magazine and the Koori Mail.
DEADLY AWARD NOMINEES 2011
MUSIC
Most Promising New Talent in Music*
- Benny Walker – VIC
- Corey Webster aka Yung Nooky – NSW
- Karnage & Darknis – SA
- Knowledge Bones – WA
- Iwantja Band – NTAlbum of the Year
- Gurrumul Yunupingu – Rrakala – NT
- Leah Flanagan – Nirvana Nights – NT
- Buddy Knox – Buddy’s Blues – NSW
- Stiff Gins – Wind & Water – NSW
- Busby Marou – Busby Marou – QLDSingle of the Year
- Street Warriors – Summertime – NSW
- Knowledge Bones – Yeah Dard – WA
- Last Kinection – Happy People – NSW & QLD
- Yung Warriors – Just a Thought – VIC
- Briggs – The Wrong Brother – VICBand of the Year
- Dale Huddleston and Riverbank Band – ACT
- Last Kinection – NSW & QLD
- Black Image – QLD
- Dubmarine – QLD
- The Medics – QLDMale Artist of the Year
- Dan Sultan – VIC
- Buddy Knox ¬– NSW
- Gurrumul Yunupingu – NT
- Troy Cassar-Daley – NSW
- John Bennett – WAFemale Artist of the Year
- Jessica Mauboy – NT
- Naomi Pigram – WA
- Deborah Cheetham – NSW
- Casey Donovan – NSW
- Shellie Morris – NTSPORT
Most Promising New Talent in Sport*
- Tahj Minniecon – Soccer – QLD
- Fred Mundraby – Boxing – QLD
- Shane Parker – Wrestling – NSW
- Thomas Boyle – Muay Thai – SA
- Tanisha Stanton – Netball – NSWOutstanding Achievement in AFL
- Andrew Walker – Carlton
- Chris Yarran – Carlton
- Liam Jurrah – Melbourne
- Leroy Jetta – Essendon
- Stephen Hill – FremantleFemale Sportsperson of the Year
- Kirby Bentley – AFL – WA
- Kyah Simon – Soccer – NSW
- Rohanee Cox – Basketball – WA
- Ashleigh Barty – Tennis – QLD
- Meghan Rutledge – Motocross – NSWMale Sportsperson of the Year
- Benn Harradine – Discus – NSW
- Daniel Geale – Boxing – TAS
- Patrick Mills – Basketball – ACT
- Kurtley Beale – Rugby Union – NSW
- Des Abbott – Hockey – NTOutstanding Achievement in NRL
- Ben Barba – Bulldogs
- Jharal Yow Yeh – Brisbane Broncos
- Jamal Idris – Bulldogs
- Chris Sandow – Rabbitohs
- Johnathan Thurston – CowboysTHE ARTS
Female Actor of the Year
- Rarriwuy Hick – Wrong Skin (play) – NSW
- Deborah Mailman – Offspring – QLD & NSW
- Marcia Langton – Here I Am – VIC
- Pauline Whyman – Here I Am – VIC
- Shai Pittman – Here I Am – NSWMale Actor of the Year
- Aaron Fa’Aoso – East West 101 – QLD
- Jack Charles – Jack Charles v The Crown – VIC
- Aaron Pedersen – City Homicide – VIC & NT
- Dean Daley-Jones – Mad Bastards – WA
- Richard Green – Snowtown – NSWDancer of the Year*
- Albert David – QLD
- Kathy Marika – NT
- Darren Compton – NSW
- Medika Thorpe – NSW
- Deborah Brown – QLDVisual Artist of the Year*
- De Greer-Yindimincarlie – QLD
- Michael Cook – QLD
- Helen McCarthy Tyalmuty – QLD
- Jandamarra Cadd – QLD
- Lisa Michl – QLDOutstanding Achievement in Literature*
- Kim Scott – That Deadman Dance – WA
- Gayle Kennedy – Yarning Strong Series – NSW
- Brenton E McKenna – Ubby’s Underdogs – WA
- Anita Heiss – Paris Dreaming – NSW
- Sally Morgan – Charlie Burr and the Three Stolen Dollars – WAFilm of the Year
- Shifting Shelter 4
- Here I Am
- Mad Bastards
- Jandamarra’s War
- ToomelahTV Show of the Year
- On the Edge – NITV
- Living Black – SBS
- Marngrook Footy Show – NITV & ABC
- The Barefoot Rugby League Show – NITV
- Yamba’s Playtime – Imparja TelevisionCOMMUNITY
Aboriginal & Torres Strait Islander Health Worker of the Year
- Craig Bloxsome, Therapeutic Residential Care Program, Anglicare Tasmania
- Muriel Jaragba, Aboriginal Mental Health Worker, Groote Eylandt, NT
- Alice Taylay, Wujal Wujal Primary Health Care Clinic via Cooktown, QLD
- Sharyn Medway, Aboriginal Didgeridoo/Art Project, Goulburn, NSW
- Colin O’Donnell, Health Worker, Maari Ma Primary Health Care Service, Broken Hill NSWOutstanding Achievement in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health*
- Western Desert Kidney Health Project – Kalgoorlie WA
- NPY Women’s Council (Ngaanyatjarra Pitjantjatjara Yankunytjatjara Women’s Council Aboriginal Corporation) – “No Safe Amount – The Effects of Alcohol in Pregnancy” – Alice Springs NT
- Yamba Roadshow, Imparja Roadshow – Alice Springs NT
- Aboriginal Research Health Promotion Strategy – Groote Eylandt NT
- Maari Ma Health Worker Trainee Program – Western NSWOutstanding Achievement in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Education*
- Barbara Tapsell – Aboriginal & Islander Education Worker, Darwin High School NT
- Abergowrie College – QLD
- Daniel Fusi – Menindee Central School – Western NSW
- Deadly Ute Project – through Wimmera Hub, Horsham VIC
- Charline Emzin-Boyd, Aboriginal Education Coordinator, NSW Teachers Federation, NSWOutstanding Achievement in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Employment*
- Brian Dowd – Black on Track – NSW
- Charles Williams – Crown Ltd – NSW
- MEGT, Indigenous Apprenticeship & Trainee Network – NSW
- NSW Health – Nursing and Midwifery – NSW
- Andrew Jackomos – Justice Department – VICBroadcaster of the Year*
- Bernard Namok Jnr – Top End Aboriginal Bush Broadcasting – NT
- Kevin Ebsworth – Top End Aboriginal Bush Broadcasting – NT
- Anthony Brown – 3KND, 1503AM – Melbourne, VIC
- Mark Ross (Munkimuk) – Koori Radio 2LND, 93.7FM – Sydney, NSW
- Karla Hart – Noongar Radio, 100.9FM – Perth, WA* These awards are judged 50% by popular vote and 50% by the Deadly Executive Academy.
DEADLYS HALL OF FAME
The Ella Award for Lifetime Achievement in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Sport
The Jimmy Little Award for Lifetime Achievement in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Music