There were no surprises that NRL Bulldogs fullback Ben Barba who won the 2012 Dally M Medal scored the Deadly for NRL Player of the Year, or that Sydney Swans goal master Lewis Jetta won the AFL Player of the Year in front of a capacity crowd at the 18th Deadlys at the Opera House.
In a night of honouring the achievers across music, sport, the arts, entertainment and the community, the Deadlys® show was must see, with plenty of high notes and some special tributes. League legend, the late Arthur (Artie) Beetson was posthumously awarded The Ella Award for Lifetime Achievement in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Sport, while the original Sapphires, Beverly Briggs, Naomi Mayers, Lois Peeler, Laurel Robinson and Tony Briggs, who wrote the Sapphires play on which the hit film of the same name was based, were honoured through the Jimmy Little Award for Lifetime Achievement in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander music. In the music categories, the talent and current wave of popularity of Jess Mauboy and Geoffrey Gurrumul Yunupingu ensured they took home Deadlys® for Single of the Year (Galaxy), Female Artist of the Year and Male Artist of the Year.
The boxer who donned an Aboriginal T-shirt in the London Olympic ring, Damien Duncan Hooper was awarded Most Promising New Talent in Sport, while international basketball star and Olympian Patrick Mills, not surprisingly, took home Male Sportsperson of the Year.
The Arts’ categories acknowledged the important issues that have marked contemporary Indigenous history, with the Film of the Year going to ABC’s Mabo and both Jimi Bani who played Eddie Koiki Mabo in that film winning Male Actor of the Year. Deborah Mailman who played his wife Bonita was awarded Female Actor of the Year.
A high point of the night was the announcement of the inaugural Marcia Langton Award for Lifetime Achievement in Leadership – presented by Professor Langton herself – which recognised the work of Yarrabah and Palm Island activist Percy Neal. The Lifetime Contribution Award for Healing the Stolen Generations went to Marumali Healing founder and member of the Stolen Generations, Aunty Lorraine Darcy Peeters who works with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander inmates, health workers and members of the Stolen Generations to heal the terrible legacies of the past.
The community awards acknowledged the grassroots efforts of those across Australia working in Education, Health, Employment, Indigenous Broadcasting and Cultural Advancement. The Tjanpi Desert Weavers travelled all the way from central Australia to be at the Deadlys® and were honoured with the Outstanding Achievement in Cultural Advancement. Tjanpi (meaning grass) supports the production and marketing of baskets, sculptures and seed jewellery made by over 400 women from 28 women, across three states, NT, WA, SA.
The Deadlys show had all the thrills and spills of a major award night and Executive Producer and founder Gavin Jones said the 18th Deadlys® fulfilled its vision in 2012. “The Deadlys® has always had a vision to recognise, celebrate and showcase the contribution of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders to our community and to Australian society,” he said. “Over the years, the Deadlys® has played a role in supporting and advancing Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander music, sport, the arts and entertainment, community and leadership – that is why the Deadlys® is such an important event on the national calendar for everyone – the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander community, and wider Australia.” Mr Jones acknowledged the support of the Australian Government through the Department of Health and Ageing, who had been supporting the Deadlys® since the first awards’ night in 1995.
WINNERS
- Most Promising New Talent in Music
Marcus Corowa
- Male Artist of the Year
Geoffrey Gurrumul Yunupingu
- Female Artist of the Year
Jessica Mauboy
- Hip Hop Artist of the Year
Yung Warriors
- Single of the Year
Jessica Mauboy – Galaxy
- Album of the Year
Troy Cassar-Daley – Home
- Band of the Year
The Last Kinection
- Male Actor of the Year
Jimi Bani – Mabo
- Female Actor of the Year
Deborah Mailman – Mabo
- Dancer of the Year
Janet Munyarryun
- Visual Artist of the Year
Vernon Ah Kee
- Film of the Year
Mabo
- Television Show of the Year
The Straits (ABC)
- Outstanding Achievement in Literature
Ali Cobby Eckermann – Ruby Moonlight
- Most Promising New Talent in Sport
Damien Duncan Hooper – Boxing
- Male Sportsperson of the Year
Patrick Mills -Basketball
- Female Sportsperson of the Year
Bo de la Cruz – Rugby
- Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander AFL Player of the Year
Lewis Jetta – Sydney
- Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander NRL Player of the Year
Ben Barba – Canterbury
- Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander Health Worker of the Year
John Corowa
- Outstanding Achievement in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health
Boodjari Yorgas Family Care Program
- Outstanding Achievement in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Education
Napranum Parents and Learning Group (PAL)
- Outstanding Achievement in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Employment
Gavin Lester – Boomerang Constructions
- Community Broadcaster of the Year
Natalie Ahmat – NITV News
- Outstanding Achievement in Cultural Advancement
Tjanpi Desert Weavers – NPY Women’s Council
- Outstanding Contribution to the Stolen Generations
AbSec – NSW
- The Lifetime Contribution Award for Healing the Stolen Generations
Aunty Lorraine Darcy Peeters
- The Marcia Langton Award for Lifetime Achievement in Leadership
Percy Neal
- The Ella Award for Lifetime Achievement in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Sport
Arthur Beetson
- The Jimmy Little Award for Lifetime Achievement to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Music
Tony Briggs and the Original Sapphires – Beverly Briggs, Naomi Mayers, Lois Peeler, Laurel Robinson