PEAK Hill's Torin Hando was announced as the Indigenous Community Person of the Year at last Saturday's NAIDOC celebrations at the Bushman's Hill Indigenous precinct in Parkes.
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Torin, who is a brilliant role model and handy football player for the Peak Hill Roosters in the Woodbridge Cup, was humbled by the honour.
"It was a bit of surprise, it was only the day before that my work colleagues told me I should probably go, so it was a nice honour to go up and receive the award," said Torin.
The NAIDOC awards recognise the outstanding contributions that Indigenous Australians make towards their communities.
Matty Price from Parkes High School was named Indigenous Youth of the Year, and Matty continues to go from strength to strength on a National level with his swimming.
WHAT ELSE IS MAKING NEWS:
The NAIDOC 2021 'Heal Country' celebrations concluded with a performances by local band 3 Day Bender, the Parkes Shire Concert Band, dancing by River Spirit and some digeridoo playing by the talented Tyrece Robinson-Towney.
Amanda Corcoran, the Parkes Shire Council's Aboriginal project officer, was thankful for the efforts of all those in the community who made NAIDOC Week, and the celebrations, a success.
Neighbourhood Central and the Parkes Shire Council would like to thank key organisations, volunteers and local businesses that make this event such a success and brought our community together," she said.
"It was wonderful for so many people to come together for NAIDOC Week and celebrate, to share elements of our local culture and enjoy the wonderful performances.
"Wiradjuri culture is able to thrive when shared with the broader community thanks to events like these," Amanda said after the celebrations.
The 'Heal Country' theme of this year's NAIDOC Week was a particularly poignant one given the sad desecration of many sacred Indigenous sites over the past year.
Highlighting a theme like this allows all of us in the community, whether we are Aboriginal or not, to understand the importance of country to Indigenous people.
We need stronger measures in place to protect and maintain our country, and respect the Aboriginal and Torres Straight Islander culture.
Remember, it takes all of us to work towards this.
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