National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Sports Awards were first held in 1986 and recognize the sporting achievements of Indigenous and Islander athletes. The Awards were not held between 2004 and 2022.

Background

Cathy Freeman has won five National Sportswoman awards

The inaugural National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Sports Awards were held at Adelaide's Hilton International Hotel on 6 September 1986.[1] The Awards were established to pay tribute to the contribution of Aboriginal men and women to Australian and international sport. Charlie Perkins, Secretary of the Department of Aboriginal Affairs, strongly supported the establishment of the Awards and obtained Australian Government funding.[2] The Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Commission continued funding after the department ceased to exist. Australian business also assisted with sponsorship.

Sydney Jackson, a champion Australian rules footballer and sports administrator made the following statements regarding the establishment of the Awards:
the most exciting thing that has happened in Aboriginal sport outside individual achievement and recognition of Aboriginal sports men and women will go a long way towards encouraging you Aboriginal athletes to preserve in the development of their natural talents.[1]
Clyde Holding, the Minister of Aboriginal Affairs stated at the inaugural Awards that
'formal recognition of the big contribution made to Australian sport by Aboriginals is long overdue. [1]

The inaugural Awards aimed to be a gala event replicating the ABC Sports Award of the Year and Australian Sport Awards ceremonies. Due to the costs of holding the Awards, it was proposed to hold them every two years.[1] Until 2003 the Awards were televised by either SBS or the ABC. Award ceremonies generally included performances by talented Aboriginal performers. David Gulpilil danced at the inaugural Awards.[1][2]

Location and Dates

No! Date Location
1st 6 September 1986 Adelaide, South Australia
2nd 12 November 1988 Brisbane , Queensland
3rd 25 October 1991 Sydney, New South Wales
4th 3 November 1993 Melbourne, Victoria
5th 30 June 1995 Darwin, Northern Territory
6th 16 October 1997 Perth, Western Australia
7th 16 October 1999 Hobart, Tasmania
8th 9 November 2001 Sydney, New South Wales
9th 7 November 2003 Adelaide, South Australia
10th 11 November 2023 Melbourne, Victoria

Winners

1st 1986

The inaugural Awards recognized a high number of former Aboriginal athletes. It was reported that never before had so many Aboriginal sporting champions congregated in one place.[1] At the Awards, Evonne Goolagong Cawley received her Sport Australia Hall of Fame gold medallion. She joined Lionel Rose and Polly Farmer as the only Aboriginal members of the Hall of Fame in 1986.[1]

[2]

2nd 1988

[3]

3rd 1991

[4]

4th 1993

[5]

5th 1995

[6][7]

6th 1997

[8][9][10]

7th 1999

[11][12]

8th 2001

[13][14]

9th 2003

10th 2023

See also

References

  1. ^ a b c d e f g h "Sports stars' big night out". Aboriginal Development Commission News. 3 (1): 5, 19. Spring 1986.
  2. ^ a b c Inaugural Aboriginal Sports Star Awards 1986 (DVD). Special Broadcasting Service. 1986. Event occurs at 60 min.
  3. ^ "Top boxer wins award". Canberra Times. 14 November 1988. Retrieved 21 May 2015.
  4. ^ "Cathy, Karl take out National Aboriginal Sports Awards". Koori Mail. No. 13. 6 November 1991. Retrieved 21 May 2015.
  5. ^ "Indigenous National Sports Award". Koori Mail (17 November): 24. 1993.
  6. ^ "An the winners are". ATSIC News (August): 12–13. 1995.
  7. ^ "Sports stars honoured". Koori Mail (26 July): 26. 1995.
  8. ^ Janke, John Paul (1997). "Cathy and Baeden clinch top honours". ATSIC News (December): 10–11.
  9. ^ "6th National Aboriginal and Islanders Sports Awards". Koori Mail. No. 162. 22 October 1977. Retrieved 22 May 2015.
  10. ^ "Australian's Indigenous Sports heroes honoured". ATSIC Media Releases. 16 October 1997. Archived from the original on 24 February 2006 – via National Library of Australia.
  11. ^ "Night of champions". ATSIC News (February): 69–71. 2000.
  12. ^ "Cathy Freeman and Major Football Stars Win at National Indigenous Sports Awards". Australian Web Archive. 14 October 1999. Archived from the original on 2006-01-05.
  13. ^ "Commissioner Hansen congratulates ATSIC sports awards winners Michael Long and Barry Firebrace". Australian Web Archive. Archived from the original on 2006-01-05. Retrieved 22 May 2015.
  14. ^ "Sports stars honoured". Australian Web Archive. Archived from the original on 2006-01-05. Retrieved 22 May 2015.
  15. ^ "World's best honoured at National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders Sports Awards". Australian Web Archive. Archived from the original on 2006-01-05. Retrieved 22 May 2015.
  16. ^ "From field to pitch, here are the winners of the 2023 National Indigenous Sporting Awards". NITV. Retrieved 2023-11-13.
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