Australian of the Year: Archie Roach, songwriter and indigenous campaigner #AOTY2020 #ausoftheyear
Archie Roach AM is a singer, songwriter, musician, and campaigner for the rights of First Nations Australians.
After being forcibly removed from his family at age two, he has overcome teenage alcoholism and homelessness – and the 2010 death of his beloved wife, Ruby – to become an Australian music legend.
In 1992, Archie won two ARIA Awards for his 1990 debut album Charcoal Lane. He also received a Human Rights Achievement Award for his iconic Stolen Generations song, Took the Children Away – a first for any songwriter. He has since released eleven more albums and embarked on nationwide and global tours, exploring issues that affect First Nations people in modern Australia.
He is a Member of the Order of Australia for his lifetime contribution to Indigenous arts and culture.
Today, Archie runs the Archie Roach Foundation, which looks to improve opportunities for young First Nations people through art and culture. Through his work, Archie spreads a powerful message of love, reconciliation, and healing.
Australian of the Year Awards:
Each year our nation celebrates the achievements and contributions of eminent Australians through the Australian of the Year Awards by profiling leading citizens who are role models for us all.
They inspire us through their achievements and challenge us to make our own contribution to creating a better Australia.
The Awards honour an exceptional group of highly respected Australians who ignite discussion and change on issues of national importance.
The Australian of the Year Awards provides everyone with the opportunity to recognise any Australian who makes them proud.
The four Australian of the Year categories are:
Australian of the Year
Senior Australian of the Year (those aged 65 years or over)
Young Australian of the Year (ages 16 to 30)
Australia’s Local Hero
The Awards operate at two levels – State/Territory and national.
State and Territory selection committees select four nominees for each Award category, with one of these nominees being announced as the State/Territory Award recipient.
The National Australia Day Council Board selects the Australians of the Year from the group of 32 State and Territory recipients.
The prestigious year-round program culminates in the announcement of the National Award recipients in Canberra on Australia Day Eve.
For more information on the Australian of the Year Awards, read about the history of how recipients are chosen:
https://www.australianoftheyear.org.au/the-awards/awards-history/choosing-the-recipients/
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#AOTY2020 #ausoftheyear
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