Ngarrindjeri NAIDOC Week award winners revealed for 2024

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Nine outstanding Ngarrindjeri people have been recognised for their contributions to the community to kick off NAIDOC Week 2024.

About 250 people marched across the old Murray Bridge and down the city’s main street to begin Monday morning, continuing an annual tradition.

An awards ceremony followed outside the local council chambers.

Volunteers, workers and schoolchildren were among those honoured – scroll down to see all the winners.

Event emcee Eunice Aston urged everyone to keep the fire of Indigenous culture burning, in keeping with this year’s national NAIDOC Week theme.

“You all carry fire within yourselves,” she said.

“You have the energy, that life force, that fire that can change things if you desire to change it and walk with us.”

Elders of the year

Two elders whose fires have burned brightly over the past year were recognised with awards this year.

Ms Aston was named one of them – to her surprise – after being elected to South Australia’s inaugural First Nations Voice.

She was never afraid to try new things and be a leader for her community, Dorothy Kartinyeri said in announcing the award.

The other elder award went to Laurie Rankine, a leader and role model on the boards of various sporting and community organisations, someone “always ready to offer a helping hand to Ngarrindjeri when called upon”.

Young people of the year

The first of two young people of the year was recognised for being a mentor, friend and inspiration to many at Murray Bridge North School.

Keynan Harradine is both an Aboriginal community education officer and a student support officer.

“He is reliable, consistent, always willing to take on new challenges,” Ms Aston said.

Fifteen-year-old Kevina Kropinyeri was singled out for working hard at her schooling and two jobs, for giving welcomes to country, and for her positive attitude.

“She is a ray of sunshine, is always bubbly, positive and lifts the spirits of those around her,” Ms Aston said.

Workers of the year

The pair recognised as NAIDOC Week workers of the year were central to their country and community, Ms Aston said.

Clive “Kiki” Rigney junior has spent more than 20 years with the Ngarrindjeri Lands and Progress Association Corporation at Meningie, managing the landscape by planting seedlings sharing his knowledge.

He also maintains a Ngarrindjeri burial ground at Marrungun.

Meanwhile, Dorothy Kartinyeri has spent more than 15 years ensuring culturally safe workplaces and community spaces, and recently started as the manager of Aboriginal services and community partnerships at service provider AC Care.

Sportsperson of the year

Dwayne Wilson was named sportsperson of the year for his achievements in darts.

As well as leading a premiership side and playing at a state and national level, he had raised the sport’s profile within the community, Ms Aston said.

“Demonstrating remarkable critical thinking and a strong capacity to create opportunities, this sportsperson’s contributions extend far beyond the dart board,” she said.

Junior encouragement award winner

The morning’s youngest award winner was Murray Bridge North School student Jed Kartinyeri.

He was often the first to arrive at language and culture classes, ready to learn, and had taken to playing the yidaki, or didgeridoo – even playing a solo and performing a welcome to country at his school on Sorry Day.

He was also due to participate in an upcoming Young Aboriginal STEM Thinkers of South Australia congress.

Artist of the year

Finally, Amy Walley-Stack was recognised for her artistic contributions to Mypolonga’s football and netball clubs, and the designs she produced and sold at events.

Walley-Stack designed both the footy guernsey and the netball bibs the Tigers wore during this year’s Indigenous round.

She had also had a positive impact on the community through her work at St Joseph’s School, Ms Aston said.