This year’s National Indigenous Music, Sport, Entertainment & Community Awards (“˜the Deadlys’) was truly a spectacular event. Hosted at the Sydney Opera House, the Deadlys filled the Drama Theatre to capacity with an audience which included Australia’s “˜A’ list of celebrities.
For the first time-ever, the Deadlys will be broadcast to a national audience on SBS at 10pm tonight (Tuesday the 14th of October). So if you missed the live performance of the Deadlys, don’t miss this very special, televised event. When you tune in tonight you’ll see there was glamour a-plenty at the 9th annual Deadlys which paid tribute to country music legends.
Celebrities were in abundance at Indigenous Australia’s night of nights, with Shakaya, Anthony Mundine, Troy Cassar-Daley, Deb Mailman, Rhoda Roberts, Christine Anu, Kyle Vander-Kuyp, Justine Saunders, Archie Roach, Ruby Hunter, Frances Rings, Ernie Dingo, Bo De La Cruz, Jimmy Little and Rhyss Wesser all stepping out to mingle with a record-sized audience, and – in some cases – pick up Deadlys.
In the music category, Cairns R “˜n’ B duo Shakaya and Alice Springs metal outfit NoKTuRNL reigned supreme, winning Album of the Year and Band of the Year respectively. Christine Anu was voted Female Artist of the Year, while country artist Troy Cassar-Daley won Male Artist of the Year.
Long-time partners Archie Roach and Ruby Hunter were honoured with a Deadly for their contribution to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander music, while the kids from Wilcannia, the Wilcannia Mob, won a Deadly for Single Release of the Year, for their infectious song Down River.
In the sport category, Cathy Freeman, who is currently in London after hanging up her running shoes in July, was awarded Female Sportsperson of the Year. Although she wasn’t able to attend the ceremony, she filmed an acceptance speech that was screened at the ceremony. Newly crowned WBA super-middleweight world champion Anthony Mundine also topped off his year with a Deadly for Male Sportsperson of the Year.
Hosted by actor, Michael Tuahine, the awards ceremony and concert was action-packed and Shakaya’s high-energy, opening performance of “˜The Way You Make Me Feel’ was not to be missed!
Interspersed between the 20 awards bestowed on a variety of musicians, bands, sportspeople, actors, entertainers and community achievers, were performances by Troy Cassar-Daly, Jimmy Little, Nokturnl, Todd Williams, the Bangarra Dance Theatre and the sumptuous sounds of the Vibe Orchestra and the Islander Girl’s Choir.
The after-party, held this year at the Hard Rock Café, was the place to be after the Deadlys. The post-event bash featured the velvet vocals of Warren H. Williams along with the Letterstick band all the way from Maningrida NT. Special guest artists included hip-hop group South West Syndicate and the smooth grooves of DJ Geoffrey Johnson.
The after-party was also a chance for autograph hunters to fill pages, and for winners to show off their ‘Deadly’ rings designed by Jules Collins.
But the Deadlys is not just a night of glamour. There was also plenty of heart at this year’s awards which honours not just celebrities but the people working on a daily basis to improve the lives of Indigenous people throughout Australia. The health and education awards which honour Australia’s unsung heroes are fast becoming sentimental favourites at the Deadlys. This year, Tranby College picked up the Award for Outstanding Achievement in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Education and Redfern AMS won the Deadly for Outstanding Achievement in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander health.
Executive producer and founder of the Deadlys, Mr Gavin Jones was delighted with the participation in and production of this year’s awards.
“This extremely talented group of individuals represent the depth and diversity of Indigenous people and I was thrilled once again to be a part of such a fantastic event,” says Gavin.
“We received a record number of votes across all categories for this year’s Deadlys and the interest from both the general community and Indigenous Australia’s who’s who of celebrities has been enormous,” says Gavin. “The talent shown during this year’s ceremony was impressive and the winner’s of this year’s Deadlys reflect the incredible dedication and talent that is out there in the Indigenous community.”
“And as far as the amazing on stage performances at this year’s Deadlys go – all aspects of the Indigenous music, sporting and entertainment industries joined forces to make our night of nights truly world class, and an established event on the Australian calendar,” says Gavin.
The Deadlys is proudly sponsored by the Sydney Opera House, The Office for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health ” Commonwealth Department of Health and Ageing, the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Commission, HIC Medicare, SBS Television, Bangarra Dance Theatre, JJJ, Copin International, Brag, Cultural Perspectives, Signwave Newtown and of course Deadly Vibe magazine.
Male Artist of the Year
Troy Cassar-Daley
Female Artist of the Year
Christine Anu
Male Actor of the Year
Aaron Pedersen
Female Actor of the Year
Deborah Mailman
Male Dancer of the Year
Albert David
Female Dancer of the Year
Frances Rings
Male Sportsperson of the Year
Anthony Mundine
Female Sportsperson of the Year
Cathy Freeman
Most Promising New Talent in Music
South West Sydnicate
Most Promising New Talent in Sport
Daniel Motlop
Band of the Year
NoKTuRNL
Country Artist of the Year
Todd Williams
Single of the Year
Down River – Wilcannia Mob
Album of the Year
Shakaya – Shakaya
Oustanding Achievement in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Education
Tranby Aboriginal College
Outstanding Achievement in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health
Redfern AMS
Outstanding Achievement in Football
Rhys Wesser
Outstanding Contibution to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Sport
Kyle Vander-Kuyp
Outstanding Contribution to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Music
Archie Roach and Ruby Hunter
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Broadcaster of the Year
Lola Forrester – SBS
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