Walgett’s Harry Phillip Hall honoured as Elder of the Year

Gomeroi and Euahlayi man Harry Phillip Hall, of Walgett, has been honoured as the Male Elder of the Year in the national NAIDOC Week awards.

The winners were announced on July 5 at the National NAIDOC Awards Ceremony in Perth, ahead of NAIDOC Week celebrations across the country.

Uncle Harry was born in a segregated blacks only labour ward at Walgett District Hospital on December 18, 1946, and raised on a riverbank with no running water, sewerage, or electricity.

He is the last remaining survivor from Walgett that assisted the Freedom Ride to overcome racism that existed in the Walgett Aboriginal Community. This was a very important event that changed the course of history and gave the homeland of the Gomeroi and Euahlayi Peoples an opportunity for them to move on from the burden of racial discrimination.

The same outcome was achieved by the students in other highly populated Aboriginal areas throughout NSW.

His employment indigenous affairs spans more than60 years, including his community and consultancy work, New South Wales Aboriginal Lands Trust (conducting state-wide meetings regarding Green Paper on NSW Aboriginal Land Rights Act), advisor for the late Charlie Perkins, coordination and the staging of the NSW annual Aboriginal Rugby League Knockout Carnival (Koori Knockout) for the past 40 years and coordination of the Survival Day concert for a number of years.

Minister for Indigenous Australians, Senator Malarndirri McCarthy said this year’s NAIDOC celebrations mark an incredible achievement – 50 years of celebrating Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people and culture through a week of activities.

“There is no better way to recognise the strength, vision and enduring legacy of past generations than by celebrating the achievements of exceptional individuals at the NAIDOC Awards,” Senator McCarthy said.

“I congratulate the finalists and winners for their remarkable achievements and for exemplifying the true essence of NAIDOC Week.”