Receiving the Grace Roberts Memorial Community Development Award, Des Ahoy was a popular winner.

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“It’s so rewarding to see better health outcomes for our mob, to see people come in and get better – it’s a beautiful feeling,” Des said at the awards ceremony.

“I love meeting and supporting the mob with education and better information so we can promote early intervention.

“I do a lot of school screenings for things like hearing and vision,” he said.

Originally a youth worker, Des began as a trainee at Galambila Aboriginal Health Services four years ago and is now a senior health worker.

“Des is a kind, caring and supportive man,” the City of Coffs Harbour award citation stated.

“He is always willing to help the Indigenous community as well as all other communities.

“He is respected and often goes above and beyond to aid anyone in need.”

The purpose of the Yandaarra Aunty Grace Roberts Community Awards is to shine a light on Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander leaders in the Coffs Harbour region.

A further seven award winners were announced on Monday.

The Aunty Award winner was Aunty Jenny Skinner

“Her work with young children and youth, and her service as a mentor and role model are such an inspiration,” City of Coffs Harbour said.

“She needs to be acknowledged for all that she continues to do.”

Uncle Award winner Uncle Kevin Wilson is described as “a solid, stable influence” on the young Aboriginal community of Coffs Harbour.

“He has facilitated numerous programs that offer them the opportunity to make a different lifestyle and make positive changes.”

The Aboriginal Community Organisation or Business of the Year Award went to the Jalay Jalay Dance Troupe, led by Gloria Mercy.

“Gloria has been passionate about dance and expressing her love of her culture through movement since she was a young girl and now passes on that cultural knowledge to the next generation through teaching.”

There were two Sports Achievement Award winners: Matthew Montgomery and Tigerlilly Green.

Thirteen-year-old Matthew wasn’t overly interested in sports until recently.

“He tried soccer and surfing and, although he enjoyed these, they just weren’t for him,” the City said.

“Two years ago, he started karate and loved it.

“He has enjoyed success in learning the moves and is progressing steadily through the belts.”

Tigerlilly, ten years of age, has been training hard in the past few years in karate and dance.

“She has always loved dance and has recently settled on tap dance as her chosen genre.

“Last year she took up karate and has excelled at that also.

“This year, as part of school sports, she is looking to add soccer to her many talents.”

Arts and Cultural Achievement Award winner Darryl Lockwood is an accomplished dancer.

“Darryl dances at a number of events,” the City stated.

“He always shares a story as well, which takes the audience on a journey of understanding.

“He shares culture with respect and inclusion in a way that helps bring people together.”

The Youth of the Year Award went to Ace Findlay, a Year 4 student at Sandy Beach Public School.

“This year she demonstrated leadership and community spirit by participating in the Starlight Super Swim, raising $2,000 for sick kids through the Starlight Children’s Charity,” the City said.

City of Coffs Harbour Mayor Paul Amos congratulated the winners, describing their success as a wonderful reflection on the broader community.

“There were eight winners today, but a record 35 nominations for the awards this year, and that just goes to show how many people and organisations contribute every day to the progress of this community,” Cr Amos said.

“NAIDOC Week is one of the most important dates on the Coffs Harbour calendar and an important time to celebrate Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander history, culture and achievements.”

This was the first time Coffs Harbour’s NAIDOC Week celebrations have been held at Yarrila Place, with hundreds of people joining in activities such as the official flag-raising, a housing forum, story-time in the library and cultural activities like art and dance.

“‘Yarrila’ is the Gumbaynggirr word for brighten or illuminate and so it is fitting that we can now host important community events like this at Yarrila Place, to bring people together an
d to highlight those who are leading in the community,” said Mayor Amos.

This is the 26th year of the Yandaarra Aunty Grace Roberts Memorial Community Awards.

The awards are named in honour of Coffs Harbour’s Aunty Grace Roberts, a key driver in the construction of Aboriginal housing near the Park Beach Plaza in the 1970s.

Leanne Roberts, the granddaughter of Aunty Grace, was in attendance at Yarrila Place on Monday to help present the awards.

By Andrea FERRARI