“50 Years of Deadly”
For five decades, NAIDOC Week has celebrated the voices of our communities — steady, unapologetic, and proud. Each year, its themes have called for truth, celebrated culture, honoured resistance, and reminded the nation of who we are.
50 Years of Deadly marks a milestone. It’s a tribute to the people who built this movement. the Elders who stood firm, the organisers who made space, the artists who turned resistance into expression, and the communities who keep showing up, year after year.
NAIDOC has always been more than a week — it is a platform, a protest, a celebration, and a statement of survival.
This moment is about looking back at the stories, the marches, the languages, the art, the leadership. At the strength it took to get here. It’s about recognising how far we’ve come, not by chance, but because generations of people refused to be silenced.It’s also about the here and now, who we are today. Grounded in culture. Strong in our identity. Leading change across every field, from health and education to media, business, and the arts. We’re telling our own stories, in our own way, on our own terms.
And it’s about the future. The next 50 years. The young ones growing up proud. The return of language. The return to Country. The fight for justice continuing with new tools, new voices, and the same fire.
Fifty Years of Deadly is a marker, not just of time passed, but of the momentum still building. It’s proof of what our people build when culture leads and community comes first. NAIDOC belongs to mob. It always has.
We honour what came before by continuing the work.
This is our story. This is our celebration. This is our future.
Still deadly. Always.
★ Sportsperson of the year
The sportsperson award recognises accomplished athletes or sporting leaders who have promoted or developed sport within the Geraldton region.
★ Youth of the year
The youth of the year award recognise exceptional young people under the age of 25 years who have contributed and are recognised by their community and their peers in the Geraldton region.
★ Scholar of the year
The scholar of the year award recognises Secondary, Tertiary and Vocational education students who have excelled with their studies either completed or still studying.
★ Elder of the year
The elder of the year award recognises Elders who are over the age of 60 who are positive role models and are respected and inspirational to their family and community within the Geraldton region.
★ GRAMS Board of Directors Community Recognition Award
The Community person of the year award seeks to recognises the contribution of individuals who have demonstrated efforts to enrich, empower and promote Aboriginal knowledge in different ways to benefit the community of Geraldton. Either by art, music, dance, teaching language, volunteer work)