JourneyOnline
THE THEME of the 2010 NAIDOC (National Aborigines and Islanders Day Observance Committee) Week in July was Unsung Heroes – Closing the Gap by Leading Their Way.
Journey asked two people who their unsung hero was and why.
Uniting Church President Rev Alistair Macrae said his unsung hero is a representative of a whole group of unsung heroes.
“His name is Maratja Dhamarrandji and for about 30 years he has worked in bible translation work in Arnhem Land,” said Mr Macrae.
“The most recent achievement of his group of translators was the publication of the Djambarrpuyŋu New Testament.
“This painstaking labour of love involved large numbers of very skilled Indigenous and non-Indigenous linguists in the deeply cross-cultural exercise of translation.
“It helps keep Indigenous languages alive and thereby represents an honouring not only of the language but of the culture as well.
“Maratja and his family live at Galiwinku on Elcho Island and recently moved out of town onto his clan homeland.
“In his quiet way Maratja and his colleagues in translation are heroes in communication, celebration of culture and commitment to sharing the good news in the language of their people.”
Tilly Jarvis of the UnitingCare Centre for Social Justice said her unsung hero was Jeffrey Smith.
“Jeff is one of the most intelligent and thought provoking people I know,” she said.
“I first met Jeff seven years ago when he was living in a vineyard’s workers quarters on his own and about to become homeless.
“He was 17 at the time.
“Jeff’s parents were both suffering serious addictions and Centrelink was threatening to cut off his Abstudy,” she said.
“At the same time he was attending high school, trying to cope with his parents’ divorce and grieving his eight missing siblings.
“Jeff was housed through our community centre and was able to continue his senior schooling.
“He always went above and beyond and was able to grasp things on such a high level that we were always learning through him.
“After school Jeff successfully applied for a position at the state museum and has since worked in educational and arts organisations.
He now has an IT position in a government department.
“It astounds me that even when Jeff was faced with so many challenges, he would not only succeed, but do it in a way that had style and meaning.
“He continues to give me strength when my own challenges arise.”
Photo : Maritja Dhamarrandji, centre, accepts his team’s 2010 General Practice Network NT Administrator’s Medal for Primary Health Care. Photo by Peter Jones
