Ganbina recently marked the 20th anniversary of its Youth Achievement Awards, the largest event of its kind in the Goulburn Valley, recognising the achievements of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander youth in education, employment and training.
Held at Riverlinks Eastbank, the ceremony gathered 255 attendees, including young recipients, families, Elders, philanthropists and business leaders.
The evening opened with a Welcome to Country delivered by Yorta Yorta Elder Aunty Merle Miller, followed by a performance from the Kalithaban Dancers.
The event served as both a celebration of Indigenous excellence and a tribute to the culture of the Yorta Yorta and Bangerang peoples, traditional custodians of the Goulburn Valley.
This year’s awards recognised 34 young individuals for their dedication to education, training and employment. Categories included education awards spanning Year 7 through Year 12, training, employment and the prestigious Adrian Appo OAM Youth of the Year Award.
“Winning these awards makes me feel recognised, both culturally and for my academic achievements,” Wiradjuri woman and winner of this year’s Training Award Kady-Anne Paton said.
“It's good that others can see that we are achieving ... in education, training and employment, because there is still a negative stereotype even in this generation, so I think it’s good to combat that.”
Numurkah Secondary College Year 11 student Charlie Payne was honoured as the 2024 Adrian Appo Youth of the Year.
Charlie’s achievements include multiple academic honours, leadership roles and volunteering experience. Her aspirations involve serving as a medic in the Australian Defence Force.
“It was a great surprise (winning Youth of the Year),” Charlie said.
“I feel really proud of myself and that we have something that recognises Indigenous youth and their achievements.
“It really shows the hard work I’ve put in has paid off.”
Ganbina general manager Jean-Miller Fowler emphasised the importance of the awards in showcasing the drive and commitment of the region’s Indigenous youth.
“We are incredibly proud of our Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander young people,” Ms Fowler said.
“These awards demonstrate how dedicated Indigenous young people are to achieve their goals in education, employment and training and show that Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander young people can succeed.”