RENOUF & MCDONALD-DOWD JOIN Q150 COMMITTEE
Published Thursday, 29 May, 2008 at 06:15 PM
Premier
The Honourable Anna Bligh
Premier of Queensland Anna Bligh today welcomed Indigenous Queenslanders - achiever and role model in the arts Nadine McDonald-Dowd and sporting legend and youth advocate Steve Renouf - to Queensland’s 150th (Q150) Celebrations Advisory Committee.
Queensland celebrates its 150th anniversary of independence from New South Wales next year with a variety of projects and events around the State.
“The anniversary gives us a superb opportunity to celebrate the achievements of all Queenslanders - Indigenous and non-Indigenous,” Ms Bligh said.
“Next year is a time for all Queenslanders to take stock, see how far we have come, look at who we are, what we want to fix and what we want Queensland to be in the future.
“Nadine and Steve are going to be great helping us engage with all Queenslanders, especially Indigenous Queenslanders in their role as members of the Q150 Advisory Committee.
“They are great role models and their enthusiasm is inspirational. Both have also made such a great contribution to Queensland in their areas of expertise, Nadine with her work in the arts and community and Steve with his legendary sports background and work with our youth.
“I look forward to their contributions as we work on ways to develop celebrations next year to their full potential in the areas of youth, arts, sport as well as ways in which we can positively engage with the Indigenous community during events such as National Reconciliation Week.
“Engaging with all Queenslanders is a priority for Q150. We want to make next year a celebration time for all.”
Ms McDonald-Dowd and Mr Renouf have welcomed the opportunity.
Ms McDonald-Dowd said one of the really great things about being appointed to the Q150 advisory committee was that it was a wonderful recognition on behalf of Q150 of the value of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander heritage.
“It’s also wonderful for me to be able to bring my background of arts, theatre, community and culture into the Q150 experience and I am really keen to see what communities say about their own culture 150 years on,” Ms McDonald-Dowd said.
“I would really encourage Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities to get involved and get their applications for their Q150 projects together so they can really profile their wonderful culture and show everyone what makes it so valuable.”
Mr Renouf, a born and bred Indigenous Queenslander involved in promoting Queensland as a State of Origin footballer, said he can see plenty of reasons to celebrate next year.
“I know there have been a lot of things happen in the past, but there have also, especially lately been a lot more positives for Indigenous Queenslanders,” Mr Renouf said.
“I think it’s positive that we can celebrate, recognise we have had issues in the past and that we are moving on from that,” he said.
Professor Peter Coaldrake, Executive Chair of the Q150 Celebrations Advisory Committee has welcomed the injection of experience from the new members of the committee.
“There is serious determination and commitment from the Queensland Government to acknowledge Indigenous communities as part of Q150 celebrations,” Professor Coaldrake said.
“We have much consultation work to do over the next three months with numerous Indigenous communities around the State and we need to ensure we do that in a credible way.
“Nadine and Steve’s input will be invaluable to us as we prepare for next year’s anniversary and will help add impetus to the progress we’ve already made with the Indigenous community.”
Nadine McDonald-Dowd
Nadine brings with her vast experience and knowledge from the Arts as a performer, educator and lobbyist. Artistic Director of Kooemba Jdarra Indigenous Performing Arts Company from 2001 to 2004, she has also performed as the nurse in Jimmy Chi’s second National Tour of Corrugation Road in 1998 and continues to be an active member of the National Indigenous Theatre Alliance BLAKstage.
Steve Renouf
Steve played 12 seasons with the Brisbane Broncos and was a major factor behind the club's early success. He also played 11 games for Queensland and nine Tests for Australia including one Super League Test. He retired from the NRL in 1999 after signing a two-year deal with English club Wigan. Today he is Ambassador for Indigenous Sport at the Department of Local Government, Sport and Recreation. He also is an active youth and anti-racism advocate.
Q150 Advisory Committee members:
• Professor Peter Coaldrake, Executive Chair, V-C, Qld University of Technology
• Professor Peter Andrews, Queensland Chief Scientist
• Michael Choi MP (Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister for Multicultural Affairs)
• Glenn Cooke, Research Curator, Queensland Art Gallery
• Eleanor Davidson, General Manager, Meridien
• Professor Glyn Davis AC, Vice Chancellor, The University of Melbourne
• Tim Fairfax AM
• Chris Freeman, CEO Queensland, Mirvac Group
• Tony Gould AM
• Professor Emeritus John Hay AC
• Marayke Jonkers, Paralympian and 2004 Australia Day Ambassador
• Nadine McDonald-Dowd, Program Coordinator, Kuril Dhagun Indigenous Centre
• Phil Reeves MP, Parliamentary Secretary to the Premier
• Steve Renouf, Ambassador for Indigenous Sport, (Dept Local Govt, Planning & Sport)
• Professor Kay Saunders AM, Executive Director, Brisbane Institute
Q150 funding to the Indigenous Community
To-date there are nine Q150 Indigenous projects funded by the State’s Legacy Infrastructure Program (LIP) and Round 1 of the Community Funding Program (CFP). They are:
• $150,000 Hopevale Church Restoration (LIP)
• $590,000 Corroboree Ring at Cherbourg (LIP)
• $1,890,000 Arts and Heritage Cultural Centre and Tourist Facility (Kowanyama) (LIP)
• $1,049,190 Community Multi-Purpose Centre at Lockhart River (LIP)
• $500,000 A Community Building to house agencies (Torres) (LIP)
• $2.2 million Beautification of Victoria Park (Torres) (LIP)
• $1 million The Degarra Community Centre (LIP)
• $8000 The North West Queensland Indigenous Catholic Social Services project (CFP)
• $9500 Minjerribah Moorgumpin Elders-in-Council project (CFP)
For more information visit www.q150.qld.gov.au Media contacts: Premier’s Office 3224 4500.
Queensland celebrates its 150th anniversary of independence from New South Wales next year with a variety of projects and events around the State.
“The anniversary gives us a superb opportunity to celebrate the achievements of all Queenslanders - Indigenous and non-Indigenous,” Ms Bligh said.
“Next year is a time for all Queenslanders to take stock, see how far we have come, look at who we are, what we want to fix and what we want Queensland to be in the future.
“Nadine and Steve are going to be great helping us engage with all Queenslanders, especially Indigenous Queenslanders in their role as members of the Q150 Advisory Committee.
“They are great role models and their enthusiasm is inspirational. Both have also made such a great contribution to Queensland in their areas of expertise, Nadine with her work in the arts and community and Steve with his legendary sports background and work with our youth.
“I look forward to their contributions as we work on ways to develop celebrations next year to their full potential in the areas of youth, arts, sport as well as ways in which we can positively engage with the Indigenous community during events such as National Reconciliation Week.
“Engaging with all Queenslanders is a priority for Q150. We want to make next year a celebration time for all.”
Ms McDonald-Dowd and Mr Renouf have welcomed the opportunity.
Ms McDonald-Dowd said one of the really great things about being appointed to the Q150 advisory committee was that it was a wonderful recognition on behalf of Q150 of the value of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander heritage.
“It’s also wonderful for me to be able to bring my background of arts, theatre, community and culture into the Q150 experience and I am really keen to see what communities say about their own culture 150 years on,” Ms McDonald-Dowd said.
“I would really encourage Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities to get involved and get their applications for their Q150 projects together so they can really profile their wonderful culture and show everyone what makes it so valuable.”
Mr Renouf, a born and bred Indigenous Queenslander involved in promoting Queensland as a State of Origin footballer, said he can see plenty of reasons to celebrate next year.
“I know there have been a lot of things happen in the past, but there have also, especially lately been a lot more positives for Indigenous Queenslanders,” Mr Renouf said.
“I think it’s positive that we can celebrate, recognise we have had issues in the past and that we are moving on from that,” he said.
Professor Peter Coaldrake, Executive Chair of the Q150 Celebrations Advisory Committee has welcomed the injection of experience from the new members of the committee.
“There is serious determination and commitment from the Queensland Government to acknowledge Indigenous communities as part of Q150 celebrations,” Professor Coaldrake said.
“We have much consultation work to do over the next three months with numerous Indigenous communities around the State and we need to ensure we do that in a credible way.
“Nadine and Steve’s input will be invaluable to us as we prepare for next year’s anniversary and will help add impetus to the progress we’ve already made with the Indigenous community.”
Nadine McDonald-Dowd
Nadine brings with her vast experience and knowledge from the Arts as a performer, educator and lobbyist. Artistic Director of Kooemba Jdarra Indigenous Performing Arts Company from 2001 to 2004, she has also performed as the nurse in Jimmy Chi’s second National Tour of Corrugation Road in 1998 and continues to be an active member of the National Indigenous Theatre Alliance BLAKstage.
Steve Renouf
Steve played 12 seasons with the Brisbane Broncos and was a major factor behind the club's early success. He also played 11 games for Queensland and nine Tests for Australia including one Super League Test. He retired from the NRL in 1999 after signing a two-year deal with English club Wigan. Today he is Ambassador for Indigenous Sport at the Department of Local Government, Sport and Recreation. He also is an active youth and anti-racism advocate.
Q150 Advisory Committee members:
• Professor Peter Coaldrake, Executive Chair, V-C, Qld University of Technology
• Professor Peter Andrews, Queensland Chief Scientist
• Michael Choi MP (Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister for Multicultural Affairs)
• Glenn Cooke, Research Curator, Queensland Art Gallery
• Eleanor Davidson, General Manager, Meridien
• Professor Glyn Davis AC, Vice Chancellor, The University of Melbourne
• Tim Fairfax AM
• Chris Freeman, CEO Queensland, Mirvac Group
• Tony Gould AM
• Professor Emeritus John Hay AC
• Marayke Jonkers, Paralympian and 2004 Australia Day Ambassador
• Nadine McDonald-Dowd, Program Coordinator, Kuril Dhagun Indigenous Centre
• Phil Reeves MP, Parliamentary Secretary to the Premier
• Steve Renouf, Ambassador for Indigenous Sport, (Dept Local Govt, Planning & Sport)
• Professor Kay Saunders AM, Executive Director, Brisbane Institute
Q150 funding to the Indigenous Community
To-date there are nine Q150 Indigenous projects funded by the State’s Legacy Infrastructure Program (LIP) and Round 1 of the Community Funding Program (CFP). They are:
• $150,000 Hopevale Church Restoration (LIP)
• $590,000 Corroboree Ring at Cherbourg (LIP)
• $1,890,000 Arts and Heritage Cultural Centre and Tourist Facility (Kowanyama) (LIP)
• $1,049,190 Community Multi-Purpose Centre at Lockhart River (LIP)
• $500,000 A Community Building to house agencies (Torres) (LIP)
• $2.2 million Beautification of Victoria Park (Torres) (LIP)
• $1 million The Degarra Community Centre (LIP)
• $8000 The North West Queensland Indigenous Catholic Social Services project (CFP)
• $9500 Minjerribah Moorgumpin Elders-in-Council project (CFP)
For more information visit www.q150.qld.gov.au Media contacts: Premier’s Office 3224 4500.