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Young Aboriginal Achievers Commended With Ricci Marks Award

14 May 2015

The contributions of young Aboriginal people across Victoria have been recognised at this year’s Ricci Marks Award presentations.

Minister for Aboriginal Affairs, Natalie Hutchins, presented the awards, which recognise the achievements of young Aboriginal people and was renamed in memory of Ricci Marks, a proud Wotjobaluk man who in his short life made an outstanding contribution.

Recipients of the Award, Shannon Ryan and Keyanna Hood, will each get $5000 bursaries to continue their community work. The Ricci Marks Rising Star Award valued at $1500 was given to Cameron Balcombe.

Shannon Ryan was instrumental in setting up the Side by Side youth support initiative and its bush tucker café, which gives Aboriginal young people training and employment opportunities in the Bendigo region.

Keyanna Hood from Bairnsdale has worked closely with Ambulance Victoria to improve cultural sensitivity and strengthen engagement with community Elders. She is currently undertaking her bachelor degree in paramedicine.

Cameron Balcome has shown a passion for supporting other young people, especially around issues of cultural identity. He is a volunteer Group Leader at Edmund Rice Camps, where he has a coordinating role supporting other young volunteer leaders.

Ms Hutchins, who presented the Awards at the Koorie Youth Summit, said the 19 nominees had all made remarkable contributions, which reflected the great work being done by many young Aboriginal Victorians.

Quotes attributable to the Minister for Aboriginal Affairs, Natalie Hutchins

“Both the award recipients and nominees are inspirational role models and should be enormously proud of their accomplishments.”

“The nineteen nominees this year demonstrate the hard work and the determination of young Aboriginal people in Victoria and the appreciation of their efforts by the broader community.”

“The Ricci Marks Award presentation is a wonderful event and is a key part of the Koorie Youth Summit, a state-wide gathering of young Aboriginal people organised by the Koorie Youth Council”.

Reviewed 19 August 2020

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