Published Thursday, 29 May, 2008 at 08:00 PM
Premier
The Honourable Anna Bligh
AWARDS RECOGNISE QLD COMPANIES FOR THEIR CONTRIBUTION TO RECONCILIATION
Premier Anna Bligh presented awards to four Queensland Business for their achievements in encouraging and embracing reconciliation at the 2008 Reconciliation Awards held at Parliament House tonight.
Ms Bligh said, “We have many great organisations in Queensland that make a real difference in the lives of everyday Queenslanders.
These awards recognise businesses striving for to create new employment and business opportunities for young Indigenous Queenslanders.
“Tonight’s winners represent a cross-section of businesses, from those working to reduce youth suicide and crime to those delivering training and education services.
The overall winner of the 2008 Premier’s Reconciliation Award is Torres Strait Heritage Pty Ltd, for its role in educating Torres Strait visitors about the union of Indigenous and non-Indigenous peoples in their role of the defence of Australia during World War II.
“I want to congratulate all the 2008 winners and thank them for making a unique and lasting contribution to reconciliation in Queensland.”
The category winners are:
• Torres Strait Heritage Pty Ltd – winner of the Emerging Business Award and the Premier’s Reconciliation Award
• Westpac Banking Corporation – winner of the Established Business Award
• Brisbane Indigenous Media Association Inc – winner of the Community Organisation Award
• The Pelican Hope Vale Project – winner of the Partnership Award
The five award winners shared in $25,000 in prize money.
The Reconciliation Awards for Business are a Queensland Government initiative and supported by Zinifex Limited and the National Indigenous Times.
For more information on the finalists visit http://www.reconciliation.qld.gov.au/ or call (07) 3224 6831.
Media: Premier’s Office (07) 3224 4500
2008 Reconciliation Awards for Business presented in the following categories:
EMERGING BUSINESS AWARD
Torres Strait Heritage Pty Ltd is an organisation that, through its research, publications, tours and museum, won this award for its role in educating Torres Strait visitors about the union of Indigenous and non-Indigenous peoples in their role of the defence of Australia during World War II.
The tours highlight how the Torres Strait was home to 8,000 troops, airmen and navy and 880 local Torres Strait men who volunteered to defend the front line. The museum is the largest wartime and cultural collection in the Torres Strait and it provides an insight into the lives of those who served together in the Torres Strait during World War II.
The museum and tours have already proven to be a tourist attraction in their own right, drawing over 5000 visitors last year.
ESTABLISHED BUSINESS AWARD
Westpac Banking Corporation was named the winner of this award for its employee secondee program to Cape York. The bank encourages all staff to live and work in remote Indigenous communities across Cape York for a one month period. Secondees work on specific initiatives developed by Cape York Partnerships and Balkanu Cape York Development Corporation. Since 2001, Westpac has provided 50 months of secondment per annum and four annual fellowships.
COMMUNITY ORGANISATION AWARD
Brisbane Indigenous Media Association Inc (BIMA) operates 98.9fm, a 24-hour radio station that plays country and Indigenous music. It also provides Triple A Training, delivering culturally appropriate radio and multimedia training. In addition, BIMA manages a wide range of community development and communications projects that address issues such as Aboriginal and Torres Strait islander health and wellbeing, land and sea management, legal rights, rural issues, parenting, and youth health and wellbeing.
PARTNERSHIP AWARD
The Pelican Hope Vale Project, a joint initiative between the ANZ Bank and Pelican Expeditions, was the winner of the Partnership Award. Each year, Pelican 1, a 62-foot catamaran, and its crew spend two weeks in Melbourne with the local community undertaking activities such as sailing, learning about turtle and dugong conservation, digital storytelling, and healing and leadership workshops.
The project exposes the community, and especially young people in the community, to a range of people, ideas and opportunities upon which to develop a positive future for themselves and their community. Its aim is ultimately to reduce youth suicide and crime, whilst bringing hope.
Media: Premier’s Office (07) 3224 4500
Ms Bligh said, “We have many great organisations in Queensland that make a real difference in the lives of everyday Queenslanders.
These awards recognise businesses striving for to create new employment and business opportunities for young Indigenous Queenslanders.
“Tonight’s winners represent a cross-section of businesses, from those working to reduce youth suicide and crime to those delivering training and education services.
The overall winner of the 2008 Premier’s Reconciliation Award is Torres Strait Heritage Pty Ltd, for its role in educating Torres Strait visitors about the union of Indigenous and non-Indigenous peoples in their role of the defence of Australia during World War II.
“I want to congratulate all the 2008 winners and thank them for making a unique and lasting contribution to reconciliation in Queensland.”
The category winners are:
• Torres Strait Heritage Pty Ltd – winner of the Emerging Business Award and the Premier’s Reconciliation Award
• Westpac Banking Corporation – winner of the Established Business Award
• Brisbane Indigenous Media Association Inc – winner of the Community Organisation Award
• The Pelican Hope Vale Project – winner of the Partnership Award
The five award winners shared in $25,000 in prize money.
The Reconciliation Awards for Business are a Queensland Government initiative and supported by Zinifex Limited and the National Indigenous Times.
For more information on the finalists visit http://www.reconciliation.qld.gov.au/ or call (07) 3224 6831.
Media: Premier’s Office (07) 3224 4500
2008 Reconciliation Awards for Business presented in the following categories:
EMERGING BUSINESS AWARD
Torres Strait Heritage Pty Ltd is an organisation that, through its research, publications, tours and museum, won this award for its role in educating Torres Strait visitors about the union of Indigenous and non-Indigenous peoples in their role of the defence of Australia during World War II.
The tours highlight how the Torres Strait was home to 8,000 troops, airmen and navy and 880 local Torres Strait men who volunteered to defend the front line. The museum is the largest wartime and cultural collection in the Torres Strait and it provides an insight into the lives of those who served together in the Torres Strait during World War II.
The museum and tours have already proven to be a tourist attraction in their own right, drawing over 5000 visitors last year.
ESTABLISHED BUSINESS AWARD
Westpac Banking Corporation was named the winner of this award for its employee secondee program to Cape York. The bank encourages all staff to live and work in remote Indigenous communities across Cape York for a one month period. Secondees work on specific initiatives developed by Cape York Partnerships and Balkanu Cape York Development Corporation. Since 2001, Westpac has provided 50 months of secondment per annum and four annual fellowships.
COMMUNITY ORGANISATION AWARD
Brisbane Indigenous Media Association Inc (BIMA) operates 98.9fm, a 24-hour radio station that plays country and Indigenous music. It also provides Triple A Training, delivering culturally appropriate radio and multimedia training. In addition, BIMA manages a wide range of community development and communications projects that address issues such as Aboriginal and Torres Strait islander health and wellbeing, land and sea management, legal rights, rural issues, parenting, and youth health and wellbeing.
PARTNERSHIP AWARD
The Pelican Hope Vale Project, a joint initiative between the ANZ Bank and Pelican Expeditions, was the winner of the Partnership Award. Each year, Pelican 1, a 62-foot catamaran, and its crew spend two weeks in Melbourne with the local community undertaking activities such as sailing, learning about turtle and dugong conservation, digital storytelling, and healing and leadership workshops.
The project exposes the community, and especially young people in the community, to a range of people, ideas and opportunities upon which to develop a positive future for themselves and their community. Its aim is ultimately to reduce youth suicide and crime, whilst bringing hope.
Media: Premier’s Office (07) 3224 4500