Shoalhaven City Council joined Shellharbour, Wollongong, Wingecarribee and Kiama Councils in receiving the Council Partnership Award at the recent NSW Local Government Aboriginal Network 2011 Conference held in Dubbo.
The award was received in recognition of the successful Regional Local Government NAIDOC Awards dinner held at the Shellharbour Workers Club in July.
Featuring involvement from all five Local Governments, the dinner received tremendous support from the local community with over 110 elders joining Aboriginal representatives and the wider community in attendance.
Shoalhaven City Council Mayor, Paul Green said the Regional NAIDOC Week Award dinner provided a unique way to acknowledge the contributions and achievements of community members throughout the five local government areas.
“The Regional NAIDOC Week Award dinner provided an excellent opportunity to pay tribute to the many hardworking members of the local Aboriginal community,” he said.
“I was extremely pleased to see Ulladulla elder, Aunty Nell Mooney recognised for her ongoing hard work and commitment to local Aboriginal issues by receiving the prestigious Female Elder of the Year Award.
“I would like to congratulate the awards dinner steering committee, made up of the five local Aboriginal community liaison officers, Aboriginal committee members and local community representatives on hosting such a successful evening.”
President of the NSW Local Government Aboriginal Network, Rod Towney, presented representatives from the five local Councils with the Council Partnership Award at a special ceremony held at Shoalhaven City Council’s Nowra Administration Building.
Councillor Towney acknowledged the importance of effective partnerships between Local Government and Aboriginal communities.
