Bundjalung Elder Boe Rambaldini honoured at Community Awards
Monday 22 May 2023
Health advocate and Bundjalung Elder Boe Rambaldini has been named Inner West Council Adult Citizen of the Year at a community celebration held on Friday 19 May at Marrickville Town Hall.
Rambaldini was recognised for his career-long dedication to improving the overall health of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people, working across universities and multiple levels of government to create better health outcomes and working conditions.
He wasn't able to attend the celebration and Jane Massa accepted the award on his behalf.
“I’m absolutely thrilled that Boe is successful as Citizen of the Year, he so deserves this award,” Massa said.
“He is a man of incredible wisdom, marvellous personality and a person who has had in the past no voice and now has a voice and is using it so well advocating for Aboriginal people.”
Massa, who nominated Rambaldini for the award, said he epitomised the spirit of community contribution.
“People like Boe are just so incredibly generous that they immediately say ‘yes’ to working in their own time working on a committee to help other people.
“He’s just got that incredible humility and generosity, as well as wisdom and he’s so prepared to share,” said Massa, who is Coordinator for Suicide and Depression Prevention, Older People’s Mental Health at Sydney Local Health District.
A lifetime of achievement for Rambaldini includes:
- Developed and managed the first NSW Aboriginal Employment Strategy for Local Government
- Developed and managed the first NSW Police Aboriginal Strategic Plan
- Developed and rolled out the first Aboriginal NSW Police Guiding Principles
- Established the NSW Police Aboriginal Council
- Negotiated the introduction of Aboriginal cultural respect and awareness in NSW Police to commence from day one to new recruits
- Negotiate police vehicles for Aboriginal Liaison Officers
- Co-Chair NSW Council of Social Services (NCOSS)
- Developed the first NSW Aboriginal Oral Health Plan
- Established funding for 99 Aboriginal dental Assistants
- Upskilled over 500 Aboriginal students in a range of occupations including: Dental Assisting, nursing, midwifery, research.
Rambaldini has worked in the private and Non-Governmental Organisation sector for more than 35 years, the vast bulk of time spent in Aboriginal affairs.
He was the Director of the Poche Centre for Indigenous Health School of Medicine, between 2017 and August 2022.
The 2023 Community Awards recognise the outstanding contribution of ‘Inner Westies’ across volunteering, fundraising, advocating and mentoring.
Erin Spencer and Bec Cerio received special recognition for fostering inclusion in the Adult Citizen of the Year category, while Kath Wawatai was recognised for her long-term commitment to local live music.
Carrie Foster was named Senior Citizen of the Year and Ha-Huong Nguyen received special recognition for her contribution to local multicultural arts.
Inner West’s young stars were celebrated on the main stage. Student leader and social change advocate Amy Johnston was named Young Citizen of the Year.
Special recognition went to Lillian Davies, Ruby Hensley, Rose Palmer and Emily Skribinsek as young people committed to social justice.
The annual Community Awards celebrate community members who live, study, work and volunteer across the inner west.
On a special night in Marrickville, the Amy Large Volunteer Awards acknowledged outstanding contributions to local families, organisations, programs, the environment, and individuals in need.
Every nominee is celebrated instead of a single winner, with a remarkable 17 Inner West heroes nominated for the Adult Volunteer Awards, while 10 senior volunteers were recognised for their selfless work.
There were 16 nominees for the Volunteer Team or Group Awards - highlighting the enormous number and range of charity work in the community. Among the nominees were:
- Addison Road Community Organisation
- Ashfield Boys High School – Seniors and Students Shop and Chat Program
- The Balmain Knitters
- Bill Crews Foundation – Wednesday Night Dinner Van Group
- Inner West Little Athletics Team
Inner West’s young volunteers did their community proud. Kasandra Lim was recognised for her work as a centre support volunteer at the Asylum Seekers Centre in Newtown.
Paddy Ljubic McMorrow was recognised for his volunteering efforts at the Addison Road Community Organisation, while Kiara Tran also volunteers at Addison Road alongside many other experiences including music performances as part of ANZAC Day Services and the Inner West Music Festival.
2023 AWARD RECIPIENTS
Adult Citizen of the Year
Award recipient - Boe Rambaldini
Special recognition for fostering inclusion - Erin Spencer & Bec Cerio
Special recognition for long term commitment to local live music - Kath Wawatai
Nominees - Catherine Delaney, Alan Earls, Simone Amelia Jordan, John Karavasilias, Ben Ross, Brooke Watson.
Senior Citizen of the Year
Award recipient - Carrie Foster
Special recognition for contribution to local multicultural arts - Ha-Huong Nguyen
Nominees - Yao Zhi MA, Farid Wilson Silwanis
Young Citizen of the Year
Recipient - Amy Johnston
Special recognition as young people for social justice - Lillian Davies, Ruby Hensley, Rose Palmer, Emily Skribinsek
Next year, the Inner West will officially change the award title of Citizen of the Year to a name that uniquely reflects the inner west.
Council has removed a requirement that only Australians holding citizenship can be nominated for the prestigious awards, meaning a much broader cross section of the community can be represented.
The change came about following Council’s decision to stop hosting the awards on Australia Day and uncoupling from the Australia Day Council’s selection criteria.
For a full rundown of award nominees and recipients go to: https://www.innerwest.nsw.gov.au/community-awards
For media enquiries and quotes please contact Brett Clancy on 02 9335 2193 or 0416155949 – brett.clancy@innerwest.nsw.gov.au