Australia Council Red Ochre Award Ceremony

Thank you Dr Richard Walley. Her Excellency Prof Marie Bashir, AC, Governor of New South Wales, Genia McCaffery, Mayor, North Sydney Council, Ms Jenny Bott, distinguished guests of the Aboriginal community from all over Australia and the Gadigal people, the traditional owners of the land.

Banduk Marika is one of Australia's leading visual artists and I welcome her here today, and her family, who have travelled from the Northern Territory for this very important occasion.

Banduk learnt to paint by observing her father Mawalan Marika, a noted artist, statesman, and ritual leader of the Dhuwa People of Yirrkala.

Banduk moved to Sydney in 1982 where she made her first prints and was invited to be artist-in-residence at the Canberra School of Art.

Since then, Banduk has actively pursued printmaking, focussing her linocuts and screen prints on representations of the traditions of her clan. These include stories of Djankawu, the Wagilag Sisters creation story and the Turtle Hunters.

Her work has inspired and impressed the international market with exhibitions in the USA, India, Egypt, Noumea and Singapore.

Banduk has represented Indigenous Australian art and culture on an international level, speaking at conferences such the Iroquois First Nations Conference of Indigenous Peoples in New York (1990).

She has been commissioned by the Australian National University, the National Gallery of Australia, the National Maritime Museum and the Print Council of Australia.

She has been artist-in-residence at the East Sydney Technical College, Flinders University, the National Art School, the Sydney School of Art and Wollongong University.

Banduk Marika is an advocate for the rights of indigenous artists. In 1993 Banduk discovered that her work had been appropriated and reproduced by a West Australian carpet company without her knowledge or permission.

She took successful legal action in the well-known "Carpet Case" which brought prominence to the rights of indigenous artists.

She maintains her advocacy role by assuming positions on Boards of institutions where her knowledge and expertise in the areas of Indigenous art, copyright, and cultural heritage issues are much appreciated.

Banduk has also been a Board member of the National Gallery of Australia and the Museum and Art Gallery of the Northern Territory

Banduk Marika is a respected elder in her community and a cultural leader.

She is regularly called upon to advise, negotiate and collaborate between indigenous and non-indigenous cultures, as well as between traditional and contemporary practices.

She collaborated with Stephen Page as cultural advisor to the 2000 Sydney Olympic Games Opening Ceremony.

She received the Northern Territory Womens' Achievement Award in 2000. The award is given to an individual for their personal contribution to enriching a community, region or the Northern Territory as a whole.

Banduk Marika is an environmentalist, involved with the Northern Territory Conservation Commission Beach Camp Yirrkala Ethno-Botanical Project and is Vice-Chairperson of the Dhimurru Land Management Aboriginal Corporation.

She is Committee Member of National Landcare. Banduk won the 1999 Northern Territory Landcare Award National Landcare Program which recognises the efforts of landcarers.

Banduk is a teacher and mentor. Ms Terri Janke, who nominated Banduk for this year's prestigious Red Ochre Award, has described Banduk's continued mentoring in the areas of indigenous arts and copyright law as truly inspirational.

I might say in a personal sense it's a great pleasure to be asked to come here to day to present this award.

It now gives me great pleasure to present the Australia Council's Red Ochre Award to Ms Banduk Marika.