The Mayor’s Reconciliation Week Recognition Awards were presented to a range of inspiring individuals, organisations and businesses yesterday – helping to mark the end of National Reconciliation Week (27 May to 3 June) in Onkaparinga.
The annual awards recognise those demonstrating outstanding work in the area of reconciliation down south, and they were presented at the Gilbert Room in the City of Onkaparinga’s Noarlunga office in front of a packed crowd.
The ceremony was rescheduled after the Reconciliation in the South event was postponed due to last week’s storm, but this didn’t dampen the spirit in the room, which included a number of elders, native bush tucker and a powerful performance from Wuthathi musician, Kahl Wallis.
The council is exploring alternative dates to reschedule the Reconciliation in the South event later in the year.
Read below to see the list of this year’s award recipients, and if you’d like to continue learning about culture after National Reconciliation Week, you can enjoy a free exhibition of artworks by First Nations students at Port Noarlunga’s Arts Centre until Monday 16 June.
Colours of Country features the artworks of close to 100 local First Nations primary school students (5–12-year-olds) from 6 schools exploring the theme of ‘The Dreaming’ through dot painting, Rarrk (cross-hatching), X-ray art, and other modern and traditional techniques.
Students researched various dreaming stories from different language groups before creating their artworks, and you’ll find information about the corresponding story and language group alongside the artworks.
Organiser, Simon Wilson, said nothing makes him prouder that seeing the students faces light up when they see their artwork hanging up in an exhibition.
“The opportunity to have them involved with as much as culture as possible is a key to them feeling like they belong,” he said.
“The other aspect is seeing how emotional it makes parents, carers and family members. It’s a win-win for everyone involved.”
Mayor’s Reconciliation Week Recognition Award recipients
Harmony Doecke
Harmony is a singer who recognises her land and really connects to land when she sings. She represented Neporendi at the 2025 Aboriginal Youth Summit at the Adelaide Zoo where she spoke about how every Aboriginal community deserves rights. She also recently performed at the 2025 Wardli Block Party youth event in Christie Downs.
Clinton Calyun
Clinton works as an Aboriginal community education officer at Christie Downs Primary School where he has made a huge impact by choreographing a war cry dance for assembly, painting a mural, leading Aboriginal art classes for a community exhibition and getting community onboard to join the school’s Reconciliation Action Plan. He’s a great role model for the next generation.
Sonder ‘Closing the Gap’ Southern Team
The efforts of the southern ‘Closing the Gap’ team of not-for-profit health and support service provider, Sonder, were celebrated for their tireless efforts in advocating and working towards the health and wellbeing of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples, and for their commitment to working with the community in the south.
Billie Cornthwaite – Meez On Plus
Meez on Plus is a business that supports and promotes bush tucker and continues to build a customer base that has an appreciation for bush tucker.
Meez On Plus’ menu is 100 per cent 'native with a twist’ and they grow a lot of their own native greens to reduce the ‘food miles’. They also provide education on how to grow these ’superfoods’ that have been on country for 65,000 years.
Tod Stokes and Elisha Hillock – Black Coffee
Tod and Elisha are local leaders supporting First Nations entrepreneurs and building pathways to procurement through networks and business connections.
Biodiversity McLaren Vale
Biodiversity McLaren Vale has been working with respect at Lot 50-Kanyanyapilla – a bi-cultural, ecological and cultural regeneration project near McLaren Vale – and their team is considerate of the history and cultural significance of country.
Suzanna Hoffman – SA representative for Boomerang Association of Australia
The Australian Boomerang Competition 2025, held in the City of Onkaparinga by the Boomerang Association of Australia, was an opportunity for all who attended to share the knowledge and sport of the boomerang with elders, historians, makers and throwers, and retain the culture and knowledge of the boomerang. This national event and association are sparking interest worldwide, and they’re a symbol of reconciliation, honouring the culture and traditions of the boomerang and sharing it with the world.
Simon Hunter – Clarendon Primary School
The Clarendon Primary School and Simon Hunter consistently promote and embed reconciliation into the school’s curriculum in meaningful ways that encourage students to share with their families and wider community.
Christies Beach Primary School, Aldinga Payinthi College and Tami Blackwell and Sara Crockford
In 2024, Christies Beach Primary School and Aldinga Payinthi College collaborated with Tamia Blackwell and Sara Crockford to produce and perform their work titled “Hope for Makarrata: History is calling.” The schools were recognised for their creation of an inspired Wakakirri Story-Dance to increase respect, reduce prejudice and strengthen relationships between the wider Australian community and Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples.
Telstra Shop Colonnades
The Telstra Shop at Colonnades was recognised for displaying messages of reconciliation and recognition of First Nations prominently in their shop in a busy part of Colonnades Shopping Centre in Noarlunga Centre.
Cardijn College school leaders
The college school leaders were recognised for their truly wonderful role modelling of leadership to peers and the wider community.
Pictured
Some of the award recipients stand with Onkaparinga Mayor Moira Were and Amanda Rishworth MP at the City of Onkaparinga's Gilbert Room in Noarlunga.