27 January 2009

Canberra's Professor Mick Dodson named Australian of the year.

| johnboy
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ANU is congratulating their Director of the National Centre for Indigenous Studies, Professor Mick Dodson, on being named Australian Of The Year, beating out all the other States’ nominees.

    “We applaud the selection of Professor Dodson as Australian of the Year, and are proud to count him as one of our academic leaders,” ANU Vice-Chancellor Professor Ian Chubb said.

    “He has tirelessly combined advocacy, diplomatic and academic roles. He has overcome prejudice and blazed pathways for Indigenous Australians. His record is an outstanding example of the high value we place on combining scholarly research with public engagement. For all these reasons we celebrate him and his achievements.”

    Professor Dodson was the first Indigenous lawyer admitted to the Victorian Bar and the Human Rights and Equal Opportunity Commission’s first Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Social Justice Commissioner. He participated in drafting the Native Title Act (1993) Cth, the legislative expression of native title rights recognised in the watershed Mabo case.

    He was a pivotal part of the Royal Commission into Aboriginal Deaths in Custody and the Bringing Them Home Report, both of which remain highly influential documents that triggered legal reform, heralded a shift in the nation’s awareness of its past and led to an acknowledgement (and recently a formal prime ministerial apology) for the policies of forced removal of Indigenous children from their families.

    At the international level, he campaigned to put the human rights of the world’s Indigenous peoples on the United Nations agenda and participated for over a decade in bringing the Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples to fruition.

UPDATED: One little remarked on part of the furore surrounding Professor Dodson’s “call” for a debate on Australia Day is that he did not raise the issue. He was responding to repeated questioning by the gallery pack who’ve beaten this issue up during a slow January.

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Holden Caulfield1:40 pm 27 Jan 09

Yeah, but Pat Rafter did a photo shoot with Sarah O’Hare in their undies. I’d feel like Australian of the Year if I managed to do the same.

neanderthalsis1:21 pm 27 Jan 09

calbelsam said :

I do not understand why he is Australian Of The Year. Lets face it he probably does not play cricket and in fact he might have contributed something to Australia. Lets vote Rudd out he actually allows non sportsmen and women to be recognised.

Mmmm, wading through the sarcasm, I get the impression that you’re implying that John Howard only gave the gong to cricketers? Like the 2 cricketers acknowledged during Howards time in office?

Howards Non-cricketers:
1997 Peter Doherty AC
1998 Cathy Freeman 1999
2000 Sir Gustav Nossal
2001 General Peter Cosgrove
2002 Patrick Rafter born 1972 (ok another sporty type…)
2003 Fiona Stanley AC
2004 Steve Waugh AO (Another cricketer, but did a lot of charity stuff…)
2005 Fiona Wood AM
2006 Ian Frazer born 1953
2007 Tim Flannery born 1956
2008 Lee Kernaghan OAM

Holden Caulfield12:33 pm 27 Jan 09

bigfeet said :

…I would assume that McGrath got nominated this year for his work with the McGrath Fountdation rather than for his cricketing ability…

Of course, my previous post was made tongue-in-cheek. I thought that may have been obvious. Oh well…

The question still remains, how many Test wickets has Mick Dodson taken?

I just want to know what the fcku is going on with the hat?

Is he channelling Johnny Cash? Is it a pseudo toupee a la Molly Meldrum? Does he take it off to go to meetings? Is he worried about skin cancer?

😉

His full name is “Crocodile” Mick “Dundee” Dodson.

Professor Dodson seems like a worthy recipient; and of course every year there are other very worthy recipients who miss out (but there can be only one!). And in our country of free speech, I think the man is certainly allowed to have an opinion regarding the appropriateness of the date chosen to celebrate Australia Day – this doesn’t make him any less patriotic or worthy of the honour. I love celebrating Australia Day and I think this day has really grown in momentum over the past decade – which is just wonderful. To be honest, I have no particular attachment to the actual date though; there are many dates in our history that might also make suitable Australia Days. I like to think that the sentiment and fervour of the day would remain even if the date changed.

VYBerlinaV8_the_one_they_all_copy6:56 am 27 Jan 09

– it’s easier to track progress in the target group if programs are segmented

And yet by targeting indigenous groups in the ‘intervention’, it’s racism at work… Isn’t that all about measuring impact on a specific group?

I’m going to go out on a limb here and say you don’t actually know that his last name is Dodson, and just took your lead from Pandy’s post immediately above.

Nothing so exciting – I’d read the whole post and made a typo.

Holden Caulfield said :

Pandy said :

Glenn McGrath has not done enough as an Australian to get top gong.

Mick Dobson has done lots over a long time.

Geez, its a tough crowd when 944 international wickets (563 Tests/381 ODI) aren’t considered doing enough as an Australian, haha.

I would assume that McGrath got nominated this year for his work with the McGrath Fountdation rather than for his cricketing ability.

Just like last years Australian of the Year: Lee Kernaghan did not get the honour for his singing ability. He was awarded for his tireless efforts in raising awareness, interest and support for drought relief in rural Australia.

I think one Digger saving his mates under gunfire is much more worthy than 944 wickets.

You’re right – I should’ve put Whinger in capitals too.

Holden Caulfield10:56 pm 26 Jan 09

Pandy said :

Glenn McGrath has not done enough as an Australian to get top gong.

Mick Dobson has done lots over a long time.

Geez, its a tough crowd when 944 international wickets (563 Tests/381 ODI) aren’t considered doing enough as an Australian, haha.

disenfranchised said :

I just think the handing out of honorary PhDs is overdone these days.(some years ago).

Robert Mugabe has an honoury PHD from Edinburgh University, University of Massachusetts and Michigan State University, and they are all still debating whether they should wihdraw them.

NOTE: This comment is completely off-topic..I was responding to one particular statement. I am in no way comparing Mick Dodson with Mugabe…I was only commenting on the issuing of honorary doctorates…OK”

Vic Bitterman10:50 pm 26 Jan 09

sepi said :

and for the whingers – abstudy / austudy are less than the dole anyway.

You need to be corrected. ABSTUDY is always spelt in capital letters. Go do some research.

disenfranchised10:38 pm 26 Jan 09

have met him. Nice enough bloke. No problem with him being nominated. He has been a tireless campaigner on Indigenous issues. Good on him. These days he is of course a professor at ANU. I do have a problem with the two honorary PhDs that he has received. He has legal qualifications. He could therefore have gone on to get a PhD in the usual manner. I just think the handing out of honorary PhDs is overdone these days. I seem to recall Cathy got one too (some years ago).

NoAddedMSG said :

That is not even close to what he said, if you had listened to his actual speech, it was very diplomatic, and it was something along the lines of “we should be talking about whether Australia Day should be held on the 26th or if there is a more appropriate date”. .

Yes, he did not (completely) advocate change of Australia Day… just discussion about changing it. Discussion is a good thing. The unfortunate thing is that any discussion on this topic descends immediately into a racial debate. With the extremists on both sides getting involved

Australia Day is the 26th of January. Mick wanting to change the date to January 1st is replacing Australia Day.

When Rudd said “No” today to changing the date, I heard the applause from the audience. Isaw Dodson sitting stony faced.

Pandy said :

JB, The man was reported at length on SBS news saying he wanted to replace Australia Day. On the eve of Australia Day and on the day he gets the award. This *is* a discussion of him as a man, bacause it represents what he is.

That is not even close to what he said, if you had listened to his actual speech, it was very diplomatic, and it was something along the lines of “we should be talking about whether Australia Day should be held on the 26th or if there is a more appropriate date”. He didn’t say that we hsouldn’t have it, or that it should be replaced with a different kind of celebration. Given the prevailing sentiment with which Australia day is celebrated, I would have thought that the day Australia became an independant nation with independant citizenship would be more suitable.

johnboy said :

Those of you trying to drag your sad old axes into this argument for grinding can sod off and I don’t care if you never come back.

Straight to the poolroom! Well put JB 🙂

There’s a lot of Australians who deserve recognition for what they do, but only one person at a time can be Australian of the Year. This guy seems like a good choice. I’m sure there’s lots of other great Australian names on the honours list too. I’m off to search the Canberra list to see who I’ve already heard of and find out about the ones I haven’t.

the australian of the year award is populist politics at the best of times and this was telegraphed months ago – i think they even reported they’d stopped taking bets, and in any case had it narrowed down to mick and glenn.

now, that said, he is probably an admirable choice, and certainly the logical one in the circumstances. tim flannery was a populist choice and was supposed to raise the issues of climate change and environmental degradation, but i don’t really recall him having any more sway on these issues than before he got the gong.

australian of the year last year was probably pim verbeek!

Make a rule,,if your found at a pub during business hours,,,,,you are NOT entitled to any gubby money….You are either working or looking for a job!!!!

I like that rule !

Congratulations to Mick. What a fabulous result for Australian of the year after all he has done to forwards the cause of reconciliation. And a local?!

To hell with the begrudgers – I say!

and for the whingers – abstudy / austudy are less than the dole anyway.

Woody Mann-Caruso9:13 am 26 Jan 09

I don’t think Dobson is a particularly good choice, personally.

I’m going to go out on a limb here and say you don’t actually know that his last name is Dodson, and just took your lead from Pandy’s post immediately above.

Why would you deliberately segregate benefits based on race?!?!

Wow, with that punctuation I can practically hear the outraged shriek in your voice. You do it because:

– it’s easier to track progress in the target group if programs are segmented – see special programs for women, the disabled, the aged and veterans, for example; and
– it raises the visibility of the program for a target group that historically doesn’t engage with the government or access its mainstream programs. It sends a message: “School is important, and it’s doubly important for Indigenous people, and here’s a program just for you to show we’re serious about that.”

VYBerlinaV8_the_one_they_all_copy8:07 am 26 Jan 09

I can’t believe we had/have Abstudy! Why would you deliberately segregate benefits based on race?!?!

I don’t think Dobson is a particularly good choice, personally.

Glenn McGrath has not done enough as an Australian to get top gong.

Mick Dobson has done lots over a long time.

I do not understand why he is Australian Of The Year. Lets face it he probably does not play cricket and in fact he might have contributed something to Australia. Lets vote Rudd out he actually allows non sportsmen and women to be recognised.

Holden Caulfield1:06 am 26 Jan 09

jake555 said :

I wonder how this discussion would be going if Glenn McGrath had been named Australian of the Year….?

I thought he might have got the gong to be honest. But he may have needed Howard to win the election for that to have happened.

Warney must be wondering what he has to do, haha.

Hats off to Dodson though, seems as worthy as anyone else that’s won the award. Good for him.

While no doubt Dodson has made a good contribution to Australia, one can only think how convenient it was to name him australian of the year shortly after krudd made his token “sorry” gesture.

Mervyn Keane12:01 am 26 Jan 09

Nothing like a boost for old left whiners and their victimhood agenda!

jake555 said :

I wonder how this discussion would be going if Glenn McGrath had been named Australian of the Year….?

“Another bloody cricketer who discovered charity only after personal tragedy and who failed to really capitalise on unprecedented media opportunities” ?

Happier with Dodson to be honest.

I wonder how this discussion would be going if Glenn McGrath had been named Australian of the Year….?

Woody Mann-Caruso11:31 pm 25 Jan 09

And SadMushroom – yes, you most certainly are.

Woody Mann-Caruso11:30 pm 25 Jan 09

So to get Australian of the Year, you pretty much just go from speaking engagement to speaking engagement talking…

ah, tal…talking really…er…ah, slo…slowly…and ahhhhh…..
….
….
….
using…really…long pauses to, er….create the impression that, ah…what you’re, er…..say, saying is, errrrr, really deep, um…..




and not just the same buzzword-laden crap you churned out at the last speaking engagement? Onya, Mick. Nice hat. Try taking it off inside for a change.

Here’s a classic example. He dragged this out for an hour. Six and a half pages, one hour – and the first page is him saying hello to everybody and pointing out he can use a LitePro. Reconciliation is, like, really good, you know, because it’s the vibe, it’s Mabo. Did I mention I work for Reconciliation Australia? Reconciliation. Look, there’s some over there. I didn’t have anything to do with it, but it’s good. Important stuff. So anyway, reconciliation. Don’t ask me to talk about it in any meaningful, measurable way, or to come up with ay ideas about how it can be achieved beyond using the word ‘grassroots’. I just like saying ‘reconciliation’ a lot. And grassroots. Reconciliation.

BerraBoy68 said :

I doubt the proposal to move Aust. Day will ever get up as the majority of Australians simply won’t let it be changed.

I think it should be moved but doubt it will ever happen.

The real Australia Day should be the day we became an independent nation – the time most other countries celebrate their national days.

As that would be 1 January, we already have a day off there so I guess Jan 26 it is.

what they have to do,,,,is go outback and find the aboriginals that still live in missions and who’s kids still run around barefoot with spears at the river trying to catch fish..
This shyt of walking into the pub at 10am and finding any man there,,,black or white,,is just disgusting…yet they are there all day everyday.
Kick them all out and make them get jobs…..

Make a rule,,if your found at a pub during business hours,,,,,you are NOT entitled to any gubby money….You are either working or looking for a job!!!!

grunge_hippy10:08 pm 25 Jan 09

when i first heard, my first thought was tokenism… but hopefully he can do something with this award to help improve status and living conditions of indigenous people, like Tanya Major tried to do. She was an inspirational choice for young australian of the year a few years back.

I am not on anyones back,,,just living in Warren years ago as the only white family in the street I realised not all aboriginals are after the same thing..
I have been to Bourke and Walgett and most other aboriginal populated areas and found they do NOT like what the city aboriginals are doing….
The last full blooded aboriginal ( from this area) to die in ACT areas was Queen Nellie in 1890….
Do NOT get up us if they have given up their fight and left it others…
I still talk to the Queanbeyan elders as my sons are (by their father) aboriginal but if you think that means they do not need a job and can sit and blodge????

JB do you realise in Bourke whites are not allowed out after dark???
That any place past Dubbo still has black and white pubs??

This crap is only in the cities,,,and most elders came from outback and still agree with us..

sepi said :

I think it is great. It must be so hard to come up with people for these awards.
Mick Dodson is a good one.

I’ve got nothing against Abstudy either. You can see it as an investment in both that person, and in the role model they can be for their future friends and family.

It can take a bit longer to get used to the Uni life if noone you know has ever been there.

Good call Sepi. Looking at it like that, I can see why Lindsey’s brother also may have had problems early on.

Pandy said :

JB, The man was reported at length on SBS news saying he wanted to replace Australia Day. On the eve of Australia Day and on the day he gets the award. This *is* a discussion of him as a man, because it represents what he is.

I can see that indigenous cousins see this as a bad day in their history, although I’m not too sure why. 26 Jan 1788 was a pretty benign day compared to what occured in the years to follow.

That said Pandy, I doubt the proposal to move Aust. Day will ever get up as the majority of Australians simply won’t let it be changed. We need to find someway to get indigenous Australians to accept the day. And no, I don’t have the answer:)

I think it is great. It must be so hard to come up with people for these awards.
Mick Dodson is a good one.

I’ve got nothing against Abstudy either. You can see it as an investment in both that person, and in the role model they can be for their future friends and family.

It can take a bit longer to get used to the Uni life if noone you know has ever been there.

JB – I hope my previous comment isn’t seen as trying to grind any old axe. I do believe that Mick deserves this honor.

I just think that with the timing so close the apology some critics will come out stating the award is purely politically motivated. Much like Howard and several cricketers getting this award early in his years in office.

Lest there be any doubt, I’m with Deckard – good on you Mick.

JB, The man was reported at length on SBS news saying he wanted to replace Australia Day. On the eve of Australia Day and on the day he gets the award. This *is* a discussion of him as a man, bacause it represents what he is.

johnboy said :

Those of you trying to drag your sad old axes into this argument for grinding can sod off and I don’t care if you never come back.

Hear hear.

Congratulations Mick. Well deserved.

A mate of mine growing up was named young Canberran of the year in the ’90s. His name was Lindsey Croft. He was given this award due to his contribution to indigenous affairs in the ACT. He was at Canb. Uni for about 8 years but never graduated as he kept changing subjects in order to stay at Uni. His fee’s were covered by AbStudy and he made no bones about the fact that he enjoyed and felt that he ‘deserved’ this support. On the back of the award he won a scholarship to Harvard where he intended to study indigenious issues. On the way back from an Indian reservation he rolled his van and was killed.

My feelings on Lindsey and Indigenous issues in general are varied. He could have achieved great things if he had lived but then again, his inclination at Uni was not to actually complete anything – just use it as a means to maintain his extra-curricular activities.

I am sure Prof. Dodson is a great and caring person greatly deserving of this award but think his announcement as Australian of the Year would have been better received if it hadn’t have occurred back to back with the Government’s apology. Unfortunately, it could now be tainted with tokenism.

OK, my patience with those seeking to hijack this discussion into their own racist tracts is at an end.

Up for discussion is this award to this man.

Those of you trying to drag your sad old axes into this argument for grinding can sod off and I don’t care if you never come back.

Fiona Stanley? Ian Fraser?

Some very good people have been named in recent times.

I would suggest this is not a very good moment for general anti-indigenous rants.

Was there any doubt that an almost educated and articulate Aboriginal would ever get it this year? Remember “Sorrieee”?

Oh what is this bullshit that he wants to start a dialogue on a new day for Australia day? So a tiny minority of 2% of australians associate Australia Day to be Invasion Day. On yer bike Mick.

I would almost congratulate him if Australian of The Year wasn’t the politicised populist non-sense it has become (always been?).

Can I ask who approves the money for aborigianl stuff in NSW about 10 years ago??
Out bush around Dunedoo at the point of an aboriginal area years ago,,,,the aboriginals fought for a right to have the area claimed etc and dedicated..
They won and a site was dedicated to be painted in aboriginal art,,,but NONE of the aboriginals wanted to go out and paint it,,,,
So my white daughter did,,my white daughter painted an aboriginal site that was on the news etc as an aboriginal site!!!??? when it was finished..
It is still listed as aboriginal but there is no mention that a white girl painted it on weekends cause the aboriginals didn’t want to unless they were paid….

Makes me wonder!!!!!! (by the way my daughter did the whole thing herself with no help from anyone,,she did it soo good that noone has ever questioned it)

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