Renowned teacher, writer, public speaker, activist, and artist Miriam Rose Ungunmerr-Baumann from the Nauiyu community in the Katherine region of the Northern Territory, has been named the 2021 Senior Australian of The Year.
Dr Ungunmerr-Baumann became the first fully qualified Aboriginal teacher in the Top End in 1975, when she became a principal in Nauiyu. She later became an art consultant for the Department of Education where she visited schools across the Northern Territory to advocate the inclusion of visual art as a critical element of every child s education.
When presenting her award, the judging panel said that it was her dedication to maintaining the cultural independence of her people and her role as a spokesperson for an Aboriginal worldview, that motivated the selection.
Australia Day Honours celebrate selfless service in public health, Indigenous advocacy and sport
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Those receiving Order of Australia awards have campaigned for a diverse range of issues.
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Some dropped everything to help the vulnerable and others stood up for our natural wonders.
Others have dedicated their entire lives to improving the rights of Indigenous Australians.
This Australia Day, 844 people are receiving the country s highest honours, including Order of Australia awards, meritorious awards and distinguished and conspicuous awards.
Despite a determined effort by the Governor-General to celebrate more women, this year only 36.7 per cent of recipients are female a drop from 41.6 per cent last year.