Council Awarded Prestigious Leo Kelly OAM Arts and Culture Award

Published on 08 August 2019

Snowy Valleys Council was awarded the Leo Kelly OAM Arts and Culture Award for its 2018 NAIDOC Week celebrations - Celebrating Wiradjuri, at the recent NSW Local Government Week Awards Evening.

The Leo Kelly OAM Arts and Culture Award celebrates outstanding achievement by local government organisations in strategic planning for arts and culture, SVC took out the major award in Division A: less than 30,000 population.

Mayor Cr James Hayes attended the ceremony and in accepting the award said it was recognition at a State level of the important role Snowy Valleys’ Libraries played in bringing communities together.

“Our libraries are so much more than books, providing important programs, initiatives and creative spaces to build social connection, said Cr Hayes.

In celebration of NAIDOC Week 2018 the Tumut Library hosted a special evening, Celebrating Wiradjuri featuring the local Indigenous singing group, graduates of the CSU Wiradjuri language class and special guest speaker Olympic Gold medalist Nova Peris.

Children’s Indigenous art, craft, language and story time sessions were also hosted across the Snowy Valleys’ library branches including the Tumbarumba library who hosted its very first Indigenous led story time.

“The success of the 2018 events has seen our Libraries expanding events as part of the 2019 NAIDOC Week program”, said Cr Hayes.

“Council continues to forge connections with our local indigenous communities and it is rewarding that our Libraries get to play an active role in showcasing indigenous culture,” he said.

As the signature event of Local Government Week, the Local Government Awards celebrate exceptional projects in planning, arts and culture, youth and communication involving local councils and their communities.

Local Government Minister Shelley Hancock said each year's winners' list raised the bar in exceptional achievement.

"Congratulations to the winners of the 2019 LGNSW Local Government Week Awards and I thank you for going above and beyond in serving your local communities," she said.

"This week local communities have celebrated and acknowledged all their local councils do to make a difference to their daily lives - beyond what we traditionally consider to be councils' roles and responsibilities.

"Councils are the heart of our communities and the dedicated and committed staff are the heart of our councils."

-ENDS-

Photo Credit - L to R: Leanne Ballard, SVC Tumut Library Assistant; Kristin Twomey, SVC Manager Special Projects; Cr Cate Cross, Councillor Delegate to the Riverina Regional Library Service; Sue Bulger, Wirajuri Elder; Cr Geoff Pritchard, Councillor Delegate to the Aboriginal Liaison Committee; Luke Penrith, local Wiradjuri man; with the Leo Kelly OAM Arts and Culture Award.