Rhoda Roberts, a proud Widjabul Wieybal woman of the Bundjalung nation and one of Australia's greatest cultural ambassadors, was posthumously awarded the lifetime achievement award at the Naidoc awards on Saturday night in Alice Springs. Roberts died in March aged 66, and her legacy was honoured for her lifelong dedication to sharing, preserving and promoting First Nations culture through language, dance and ceremony.
Recognition of a Lifetime of Contribution
The National Aborigines and Islanders Day Observance Committee (Naidoc) awards recognise the outstanding contributions, achievements and excellence of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples across Australia. The co-chair of the National Naidoc Committee, Lynette Riley, paid tribute to Roberts, describing her as “a force” whose legacy would continue to inspire future generations.
“(She was) fearless, brilliant and deeply committed to community and culture,” Riley said. “Rhoda had been selected for this honour, and we felt strongly that it was important to continue recognising her extraordinary contribution. Her legacy will continue to inspire generations to come.”
Career Highlights and Cultural Impact
Roberts was a trailblazer in media and the arts. In 1991, she became the first Aboriginal person to host a prime-time current affairs program, SBS’s Vox Populi. The following year, she co-founded Deadly Sounds, a radio program that ran for 21 years, giving Indigenous people a voice across Australia and the Pacific.
At the Sydney Olympics in 2000, Roberts served as a creative director and choreographed the Awakening segment of the opening ceremony, watched by millions worldwide. In 2012, she became the inaugural head of Indigenous programming at the Sydney Opera House, where she initiated Dance Rites, a First Nations dance competition, and advocated for the inclusion of Bangarra Dance Theatre and the Deadly awards. In 2017, she took on the role of creative director for the Parrtjima festival of light in Alice Springs/Mparntwe.
Minister’s Tribute and Other Awardees
The minister for Indigenous Australians, Malarndirri McCarthy, said this year’s winners “embody the spirit of Naidoc”, with the annual event celebrating 50 years. “They are leaders, advocates, artists, educators, innovators and community champions whose work is creating positive change and inspires others,” McCarthy said. “As we celebrate 50 Years of Deadly, we also celebrate the generations of First Nations people who have strengthened our communities and helped shape a better future for all Australians.”
Other winners recognised on the night included: Person of the year: Aunty Pat Turner; Female Elder of the year: Christine Corby; Male Elder of the year: Dr Stephen Hagan; Sportsperson of the year: Caitlyn Costello; Youth of the year: Tyson Neal-Edwards; Creative talent award: Kaylene Whiskey; Caring for country and culture award: Southern Aboriginal Corporation; Education award: The Aboriginal & Islander Independent Community School (The Murri School); and Innovation award: Young Indigenous Women’s STEM Academy.
