Decision details

Moved by Councillor Scott, seconded by Councillor Ellsmore –

It is resolved that:

(A)        Council note:

(i)           Aunty Millie Ingram is a Wirandjuri Elder from Cowra NSW;

(ii)         moving to Redfern in the 1950s, Aunty Millie worked a variety of jobs, including in a local chocolate factory, whilst also completing a tertiary education;

(iii)        Aunty Millie joined the Department of Aboriginal Affairs for 13 years as the Assistant Secretary, advocating for land rights and education;

(iv)        Aunty Millie has also served as the Councillor for the NSW Aboriginal Land Council for four years;

(v)         Aunty Millie was the CEO of the Wyanga Elders Program in Redfern and has previously joined the FACS project “Keeping Them Home’;

(vi)        Aunty Millie founded Australia’s first Aboriginal Community Controlled early childhood centre, Murawina;

(vii)      in 2001, Aunty Millie received a Commonwealth Bicentenary Award;

(viii)     in 2010, Aunty Millie was awarded Woman of the Year in 2010 for the electorate of Heffron and was a finalist in the 2010 International Women of the Year awards;

(ix)        Aunty Millie is a tremendous member of the community who continues to support Aboriginal Elders, women and youth;

(x)         on Saturday 6 July 2024, the 2024 National NAIDOC Week Awards Ceremony was held in Adelaide;

(xi)        the annual National NAIDOC Week Awards Ceremony recognises the outstanding contributions that Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people make in their communities and beyond, and promotes Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander issues in the wider community; and

(xii)      Aunty Millie was awarded the NAIDOC Female Elder of the Year Award;

(B)        Council congratulate Aunty Millie Ingram on her monumental achievement; and

(C)        the Lord Mayor be requested to write to Aunty Millie Ingram thanking her for her years of service to our community.

Carried unanimously.

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