EUREKA DEMOCRACY AWARD: 2017 - Patrick Dodson
Patrick was former Director of the Central and Kimberly Land Councils, Commissioner in the Royal Commission into Aboriginal Deaths in Custody, Chair of the Council for Aboriginal Reconciliation, and Co-Chair of the Expert Panel for Constitutional Recognition of Indigenous Australians. Prior to his election as a WA Senator in 2016 Patrick was a member of the ANU Council, Adjunct Professor at the University of Notre Dame and Co-Chair of the National Referendum Council.
Patrick has influenced our national conversation; he has worked to strengthen our Australian democratic society and has built a reputation for his patient facilitation skills in meetings with diverse stakeholders.
The Eureka National Democracy Award was given to Patrick for his leadership in addressing the injustices facing indigenous people in this land, his tireless work for reconciliation and recognition over many decades through the dialogue he fosters between indigenous and non-indigenous Australians, his consistent commitment to human rights and dignity, and his continued encouragement for a much more informed, inclusive and engaged society. Patrick’s leadership continues to keep alive the vision of participatory democracy in contemporary Australian culture..
Patrick has influenced our national conversation; he has worked to strengthen our Australian democratic society and has built a reputation for his patient facilitation skills in meetings with diverse stakeholders.
The Eureka National Democracy Award was given to Patrick for his leadership in addressing the injustices facing indigenous people in this land, his tireless work for reconciliation and recognition over many decades through the dialogue he fosters between indigenous and non-indigenous Australians, his consistent commitment to human rights and dignity, and his continued encouragement for a much more informed, inclusive and engaged society. Patrick’s leadership continues to keep alive the vision of participatory democracy in contemporary Australian culture..
2017 Eureka Democracy Award Winner: Patrick Dobson
I wish to acknowledge the NGUNNAWAL people; the traditional custodians of the Canberra region and pay my respects to elders past and present.
In 1854 at the Eureka Stockade the Diggers stood to defend their rights and liberties as manifested in their Ballarat Reform League Charter and its Demands for Democracy. For these early immigrants to the Goldfields and their thousands of supporters who met at the Monster Meetings at Bakery Hill, this was a new country that offered great opportunities for a better life. Eureka was a battle lost but a victory won – the Colonial Government finally acceded to their demands and which are now embedded in our Australian Constitution.
But this wasn’t a new country – it has been occupied for over 60,000 years by our indigenous people - the oldest continuous culture on earth. For the last 200 plus years since European settlement, our Indigenous people have been demanding and struggling for their rights and liberties, for reconciliation, for a treaty and for constitutional recognition.
Patrick Dodson has been a leader in these struggles.
Patrick was former Director of the Central and Kimberly Land Councils, Commissioner in the Royal Commission into Aboriginal Deaths in Custody, Chair of the Council for Aboriginal Reconciliation, and Co-Chair of the Expert Panel for Constitutional Recognition of Indigenous Australians. Prior to his election as a WA Senator in 2016 Patrick was a member of the ANU Council, Adjunct Professor at the University of Notre Dame and Co-Chair of the National Referendum Council
This Eureka National Democracy Award states that it is given to Patrick for his leadership in addressing the injustices facing indigenous people in this land, his tireless work for reconciliation and recognition over many decades through the dialogue he fosters between indigenous and non-indigenous Australians, his consistent commitment to human rights and dignity, and his continued encouragement for a much more informed, inclusive and engaged society. Patrick’s leadership continues to keep alive the vision of participatory democracy in contemporary Australian culture….
One of the many outstanding examples of Patrick fostering dialogue and co-operation between indigenous and non- indigenous Australians would be that remarkable time when he joined forces with Rick Farley (now deceased) CEO of the National Farmers Federation and with Phillip Toyne (also deceased) Head of the Australian Conservation Foundation. These three set out to address such major issues on Land Care, Conservation, Reconciliation and Aboriginal rights. Their leadership and success was something to behold and today we benefit much from their work.
Patrick has influenced our national conversation; he has worked to strengthen our Australian democratic society and has built a reputation for his patient facilitation skills in meetings with diverse stakeholders. He is knowledgeable, he is intelligent, and he is wise. He speaks the truth. And as Michael Gordon, National editor of the Age wrote “he is the voice of reason and there are few in this country that can match the power of his oratory”
I believe that Patrick is at the heart of this country, its land, its people, its culture and its spirit. Not only does Patrick have the attributes of a great leader, I hope that one day these attributes will be further recognized and may enable him to become the first President of Australia – A Republic.
Congratulations Patrick - Eureka’s Children will do whatever they can to support you and those intrinsic and nationally important causes that you pursue. It is my pleasure to present this Award and the Eureka medallion.
In 1854 at the Eureka Stockade the Diggers stood to defend their rights and liberties as manifested in their Ballarat Reform League Charter and its Demands for Democracy. For these early immigrants to the Goldfields and their thousands of supporters who met at the Monster Meetings at Bakery Hill, this was a new country that offered great opportunities for a better life. Eureka was a battle lost but a victory won – the Colonial Government finally acceded to their demands and which are now embedded in our Australian Constitution.
But this wasn’t a new country – it has been occupied for over 60,000 years by our indigenous people - the oldest continuous culture on earth. For the last 200 plus years since European settlement, our Indigenous people have been demanding and struggling for their rights and liberties, for reconciliation, for a treaty and for constitutional recognition.
Patrick Dodson has been a leader in these struggles.
Patrick was former Director of the Central and Kimberly Land Councils, Commissioner in the Royal Commission into Aboriginal Deaths in Custody, Chair of the Council for Aboriginal Reconciliation, and Co-Chair of the Expert Panel for Constitutional Recognition of Indigenous Australians. Prior to his election as a WA Senator in 2016 Patrick was a member of the ANU Council, Adjunct Professor at the University of Notre Dame and Co-Chair of the National Referendum Council
This Eureka National Democracy Award states that it is given to Patrick for his leadership in addressing the injustices facing indigenous people in this land, his tireless work for reconciliation and recognition over many decades through the dialogue he fosters between indigenous and non-indigenous Australians, his consistent commitment to human rights and dignity, and his continued encouragement for a much more informed, inclusive and engaged society. Patrick’s leadership continues to keep alive the vision of participatory democracy in contemporary Australian culture….
One of the many outstanding examples of Patrick fostering dialogue and co-operation between indigenous and non- indigenous Australians would be that remarkable time when he joined forces with Rick Farley (now deceased) CEO of the National Farmers Federation and with Phillip Toyne (also deceased) Head of the Australian Conservation Foundation. These three set out to address such major issues on Land Care, Conservation, Reconciliation and Aboriginal rights. Their leadership and success was something to behold and today we benefit much from their work.
Patrick has influenced our national conversation; he has worked to strengthen our Australian democratic society and has built a reputation for his patient facilitation skills in meetings with diverse stakeholders. He is knowledgeable, he is intelligent, and he is wise. He speaks the truth. And as Michael Gordon, National editor of the Age wrote “he is the voice of reason and there are few in this country that can match the power of his oratory”
I believe that Patrick is at the heart of this country, its land, its people, its culture and its spirit. Not only does Patrick have the attributes of a great leader, I hope that one day these attributes will be further recognized and may enable him to become the first President of Australia – A Republic.
Congratulations Patrick - Eureka’s Children will do whatever they can to support you and those intrinsic and nationally important causes that you pursue. It is my pleasure to present this Award and the Eureka medallion.
