已故澳大利亚Bundjalung民族文化大使罗达·罗伯茨于3月去世，享年66岁[1]。周六晚在艾丽斯泉举行的NAIDOC奖颁奖典礼上，她被追授终身成就奖，以表彰其在推广、保护和宣传第一民族文化方面的杰出贡献[1]。NAIDOC委员会副主席林内特·莱利对罗伯茨评价颇高，称其"无畏、聪慧，并对社区和文化深深承诺"[1]。今年恰逢NAIDOC奖庆祝50周年[1]。
罗伯茨通过语言、舞蹈和仪式在文化保护领域留下深远影响[1]。她在2000年悉尼奥运会上担任创意总监，编排了开幕式的"觉醒"环节[1]。1991年，她成为首位主持SBS黄金时段时事节目《Vox Populi》的原住民[1]。1992年，她共同创办电台节目《Deadly Sounds》，该节目运营了21年[1]。她还曾于2012年成为悉尼歌剧院土著节目编制负责人[1]，以及2017年成为艾丽斯泉Parrtjima灯光节的创意总监[1]。
Rhoda Roberts, a pioneering Bundjalung cultural ambassador who passed away in March at age 66, has been posthumously awarded the NAIDOC Lifetime Achievement Award [1]. The honour was presented at the NAIDOC Awards ceremony held in Alice Springs on Saturday evening, recognising her decades of dedication to promoting, preserving and celebrating First Nations culture through language, dance and ceremony [1].
Roberts' career spanned multiple platforms and roles across Australian cultural institutions. She served as creative director for the 2000 Sydney Olympic Games opening ceremony, choreographing the Awakening segment [1]. In 1991, she became the first Indigenous presenter of the SBS prime-time current affairs program Vox Populi [1]. She co-founded the radio program Deadly Sounds in 1992, which ran for 21 years [1]. Later in her career, Roberts took on the role of Indigenous programming manager at the Sydney Opera House in 2012 and became creative director of the Parrtjima light festival in Alice Springs in 2017 [1].
Lynette Riley, deputy chair of the NAIDOC Committee, described Roberts as "fearless, brilliant and deeply committed to community and culture" [1]. The NAIDOC Awards, which recognise outstanding contributions and achievements of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Australians, marked their 50th anniversary this year [1].