South of Perth Yacht Club Elder in Residence Marie Taylor was recognised for her outstanding achievement as NAIDOC Elder of the year at the 2022 NAIDOC Perth Awards held 25th June.

The award acknowledges Ms Taylor’s outstanding commitment to both the Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal community at grassroots and organisational levels.

Ms Taylor has been dedicated to the betterment of Aboriginal lives and educating for change through a range of organisations including South of Perth Yacht where she provides cultural advice and protocols regarding the rivers, events and sites of significance.  South of Perth Yacht Club was the first yacht club in Australia to install an Elder in Residence as a commitment to reconciliation.

Marie has contributed her cultural knowledge as Elder in Residence at Holyoake, and currently at the Wetlands Centre at Walliabup Bibra Lake. She wrote a curriculum unit introducing Nyungar Language for Aboriginal and non Aboriginal students at Murdoch University and has informed a range of heritage planning outcomes for the rivers.

South of Perth Yacht club is located at the confluence of the Swan and Canning Rivers Derbarl Yerrigan and Djarlgarro Beelier and adjacent to Goolugatup (Heathcote lowerlands). All three sites are listed on the Register of Aboriginal sites.

Each year the national NAIDOC award recognises outstanding efforts in 13 categories across business, sport and community. This year’s NAIDOC theme is Get up! Standup! Show up!

Congratulations Marie.  Mooditj!

Words By Gina Pickering

Image courtesy of NAIDOC Perth