Nominations open for 2022 Sealin Garlett Community Leadership Award

To coincide with NAIDOC week, the City of Fremantle has opened nominations for the 2022 Sealin Garlett Community Leadership Award.

The award honours the late Reverend Sealin Garlett, who was an outstanding contributor towards reconciliation both to the Nyoongar community and non-Aboriginal community of Perth.

The City of Fremantle created the award in collaboration with the Walyalup Reconciliation Action Plan Working Group to celebrate the achievements of a community member who has demonstrated outstanding contributions in reconciliation and community leadership.

Last year the award was presented to Roni Forrest for her contribution to Aboriginal education as the coordinator of the Future Footprints Program at the Association of Independent Schools WA, while the inaugural winner was Fremantle Indigenous Action Group leader Marie Thorne.

Mayor Hannah Fitzhardinge said the Sealin Garlett Award was an important way to recognise the achievements of Fremantle’s Aboriginal leaders.

“There are so many people in Fremantle who dedicate so much time and effort to supporting their community and raising awareness of Aboriginal heritage and culture,” Mayor Fitzhardinge said.

“It’s really important to acknowledge that effort and hopefully inspire other emerging leaders to follow in their footsteps.

“I encourage anyone who knows someone who has made an outstanding contribution to reconciliation and community leadership to nominate them for this award.” 

To be eligible for the Sealin Garlett Award, the person nominated must be of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander descent; connected to the City of Fremantle by volunteering, residing, working or studying within the City; and have demonstrated achievements in community leadership and reconciliation.

Nominations for the 2022 Sealin Garlett Community Leadership Award close on 10 October.

Submissions can be sent by post (PO Box 807, Fremantle WA 6959) or by contacting the City’s Aboriginal Engagement Officer Ethan Kelly-Akee at [email protected] or 1300 MY FREO (1300 696 736).

Download a nomination form here - Sealin Garlett Community Leadership Award - nomination form.

Nomination forms can also be collected at the City of Fremantle’s Administration Building at Fremantle Oval, Fremantle Library and the Walyalup Aboriginal Cultural Centre.

The City of Fremantle kicked off its NAIDOC Week 2022 celebrations this morning with Virtual Whadjuk - a Cultural Experience in Virtual Reality exploring Whadjuk society pre-colonisation.

The event at Fremantle Library allows users to step back in time and experience the traditional Whadjuk way of life before European settlement.

The City is also offering free Cultural Awareness Training at the Walyalup Aboriginal Cultural Centre, where participants can learn about the history of the world's oldest living cultures, and Nyoongar Storytime and Boomerang decorating with Nyoongar Elder Betty Garlett.

On Tuesday 12 July Fremantle Arts Centre will host Disclosure – Strong Black Women, where First Nations women including Clothilde Bullen, Gina Williams, Chloe Ogilvie and Sharyn Egan will reflect on the role the arts play in creating space for reconciliation in contemporary Australia.

Bookings are required for all events.

For more information and to register for events please go to fremantle.wa.gov.au/naidoc-week-events.