Two from North Coast Institute receive state-wide honours in 2007 TAFE NSW Gili Awards
Friday 13th July 2007
An Aboriginal student studying at Port Macquarie Campus and a part-time Aboriginal teacher at Grafton Campus each received awards last night in the 2007 TAFE NSW Gili (pronounced “Killie”) Awards.
Amanda Ryan, who gained her diploma in Community Welfare Work in 2006, received the Gili Award for Student Achievement and Evelyn Webb received the Aboriginal Education and Training Director’s Meritorious Service Award.
The Gili Awards, part of NAIDOC Week celebrations, celebrate and recognise the achievements of Aboriginal TAFE students and staff who have contributed much to their communities through education and training. Gili is an Aboriginal word of the Eora Nation meaning ‘to shine’.
North Coast Institute Director, Elizabeth McGregor said that she was delighted to see that the work of both these valuable members of the North Coast community has been rewarded in this way. “We are proud of our positive relationships with the Aboriginal community on the North Coast, and these awards are richly deserved,” said Ms McGregor.
Amanda Ryan completed her Diploma of Community Welfare Work with a grade average at Distinction level. Her teachers say that her work was always of the highest quality, submitted on time, and reflected her capacity for creative and critical thinking.
Ms McGregor said that Ms Ryan’s nominating teachers said that Amanda was a well respected student amongst her peers. “Her shared experiences of being an indigenous person created learning opportunities for her fellow learners, and her honesty and integrity was always well received,” said Ms McGregor.
Amanda was successful in gaining the Puggy Hunter Memorial Scholarship in 2004, which is aimed at helping address the under-representation of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people in health professions and assist in increasing the number of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people with professional health qualifications.
Amanda now works in the Aboriginal Health Unit at the Mid North Coast Area Health Service.
Evelyn Webb was recognised for her long and outstanding service to education in NSW.
Ms Webb was the first Aboriginal student to complete and graduate from secondary school and the first Aboriginal person to be fully accredited as a school teacher in Australia.
She recently retired from her position as a TAFE teacher at the Grafton Campus of the North Coast Institute.
In paying tribute to Ms Webb, the Minister for Education and Training John Della Bosca said she was the first Aboriginal person to complete her full secondary qualification.
“This is a remarkable story about one of the great successes of indigenous education in the State,” Mr Della Bosca said.
“Evelyn truly is a ’living treasure’.
“She paved the way at a time when Aboriginal people were not recognised as citizens in the census nor had the right to vote,” he said.
Evelyn Webb graduated from Sydney Teachers College in 1953 and started her teaching career at the Cabbage Tree Island Public School, on the Richmond River, 20 kilometres south of Ballina.
It has 100% Aboriginal enrolment with students living on the island or in nearby communities.
Evelyn remained at Cabbage Tree Island Public School for five years before leaving to start a family.
In 1971 she returned to teaching, this time at Matraville Primary School.
During her long career she has filled a number of key roles within the Department of Education including working as an Aboriginal Support Teacher and working as a literacy, numeracy and Aboriginal studies teacher for adult students at TAFE.
“Evelyn has also worked tirelessly to help promote the educational needs of Aboriginal children. During the 1980’s she was a member of a group who worked to establish Aboriginal pre-schools and homework centres, “Mr Della Bosca said.
“Evelyn is an outstanding role model for all young Australians, particularly young Aboriginal people. Her trailblazing helped to break down cultural prejudice, and provide a career pathway for other Aboriginal teachers. Her award is richly deserved,” Mr Della Bosca said.
In 2006, Aboriginal students made up 7.5% of the enrolments in North Coast Institute courses, which was the one of the highest participation rates in the state, and double the percentage of Aboriginal people (3.5% in 2003) in the North Coast population.
