Madeleine Madden is a young woman with big aspirations.
13 year old Madeleine Madden from Sydney told the nation on Sunday 24th October, that all Australians must help create real jobs and a better future for Indigenous Australians in this generation.
Maddie has a passion for improving the lives of Indigenous Australians and for the performing arts.
At 13 Maddie is already determined to make her mark and to continue a family tradition of advocating for greater opportunities for Indigenous Australians.
Maddie is the daughter of Hetti Perkins and Lee Madden (deceased) and the granddaughter of Chikka Madden and Charles Perkins.
Although Maddie has grown up in inner Sydney she has traveled to rural and remote communities and is only too well aware that many Indigenous Australians still face significant barriers in the pursuit for better education, training and employment opportunities.
It is both her passion and performance that made Maddie the ideal candidate to deliver Australia’s first Address to the Nation.
Maddie delivered her important message on behalf of GenerationOne on every free-to-air and satellite television networks, reaching more than 6 million people.
“With a job - a real job - you can look after yourself, your family and help your community. I’ve seen the difference this has made in my own family because my Grandfather worked his whole life to give his kids what he never had.” Madeleine said in her Address to the Nation.
The two minute address which stopped the nation, was pulled together by the efforts of many dedicated people already doing their bit to end Indigenous disparity.
GenerationOne CEO Tim Gartrell said the extraordinary efforts from the TV networks, businesses and agencies involved had enabled millions of Australians to hear Madeleine’s message to end Indigenous disparity in this country with real action.
“GenerationOne has been overwhelmed by how generous media owners, businesses and agencies have been to make this campaign a success. It shows the depth of passion the Australian people share to end this terrible disparity between Indigenous and non-Indigenous Australians.”
“Our goal is to bring Indigenous and non-Indigenous Australians together to provide equal and real opportunities in education, training, mentoring and employment. All Australians have the chance to make a difference and be a part of the generation for change.”
The TV address has been reinforced by all five of News Limited’s capital city daily newspapers featuring a full page advertisement for GenerationOne.
If you missed the Address on Sunday night, you can watch it here on the GenerationOne website or on any one of these platforms: Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, Westfields website, Ninemsn, Yahoo7!, The Australian Online, Telstra, BigPond, Google, YouTube or Val Morgan digilights.
GenerationOne partnered with Rachel Perkins from Blackfella films, Neil Lawrence from Lawrence Creative and Brian Craighead and Julie Frikken of Red Bean Republic to produce the Address to the Nation.
GenerationOne asks everyone to watch the Address, and those that have to now take action. Register, your name, email and postcode on this website and encourage five of your friends to do the same. Help GenerationOne create a better future for our Indigenous brothers and sisters.
Sunday, 24 October @ 20:27 Add your comment
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Let's all accept the challenge and make Maddie's dream come true.
Dear Maddie, I joined the NSW Police in 1970 and my first Station was Redfern. This was my first contact with Indigenous Australians. It was confronting to say the least. A few years later I worked at Moulamein, Bemboka< Jerilderie and Queanbeyan as well as 7 years as an instructor at the Goulburn Police Academy. Over the years I found that there was so much fear and distrust on both sides that it was impossible to resolve the simplest issues. It was a self fulfilling prophecy, "THEY are the enemy". I found that until you could establish some sort of personal relationship that gets past the stereotype, nothing happens, the fear and hate is still there. I am retired these days, but I would like to help. I do not know how I can help but your message has touched a spark of hope within me that I had thought had died. Over the years I have met some fantastic people of all sorts of backgrounds who have helped me in one way or other. I would like to be able to give something back to repay those who have given so much to me. Please let me know if I can help in any way. Sincerely Geoff Goode
A very powerful and moving message
Madeleine, I visited this website after seeing your message on TV yesterday. I find that message and this entire initiative incredibly inspiring, and something that I can emotionally relate to. I am not indigenous Australian but of Sri Lankan origin, yet have always had this deep affection and respect for this longest continuing human culture in the world. I am very happy to see a movement of this sort gathering momentum, and I wish it would reach the greatest heights.
I am very inspired about the Address to the Nation by Madeleine Madden. I have just watched the address with my VCE Koorie History class - I am teaching 10 passionate young women - 3 of Aboriginal descent and we are all pumped. We are going to show this clip at our school assembly on Friday just to make sure everyone in our school community gets your message. Keep up the great work! We are also currently studying the work of Charles Perkins - he is one of our heroes.
We wud like tointerview you re this
Madeline, Well done, as a mixed race indigenous Australian, I grew up in Central and North Western NSW in the late 1970's and early 1980's I have seen disadvantage first hand and know the real value of a good education and a real job. I hope that all my wife and I do for our children will give them and future generations the start in life I did not have. I hope your message got through to all Australians and that they take notice and start discussions about what you said and take some action towards changing things for the better. Again well done.
I agree, lets make your dream come true :) God Bless xx
We are ONE people - of the Earth! The sooner we treat each other as we would like to be treated, the better. Yes, we have differences, but can't we show compassion and tolerance and HELP oursleves be the best we can be? It starts with Self....what are YOU doing?
this young laddy is a leader in every way i was in nam with ow brothers and thay were as good as any man so lets all get together and look after our BACKYARD AND OUR PEOPLE
It is so good if there is some people in a community who have a vision for the future. But i am sorry this is where it ends for me, the way I see it is not to feel sorry for yourself, who you are and what people have done to you. The only way you can change it is if this community stand proud and start doing something about it themself,all the things that they complain about,is not hard to change. There is and was many projects to help. Live is not easy and do not always seems to be fair ,we just cannot wait for someone to help us and keep on helping,we must be willing to work towards a better future for ourself,showing all around us that we are trying to do what we are asking for, this alone will inspire everyone to help and create more oppertunities for us . We must be willing to start changing at grassroot level and lead by exsample teach our children,make use of what is available, NOW,and perhaps by showing that we are using existing systems we can ask for something better,but it all start with us. We are the foundation without a foundation we cannot start building,so teach our children ,do good ,so they can see, and they will do better,what happened in our past is history,we cannot change it,we can only try and prevent it from happening again,so it all start with us,parents,to start building a better future by showing our children how to behave,how to work hard,pay our taxes and help someone else. Children do not always listen to us but they are always watching us,so do what is right.
I cant see how we can 'close the gap' when the traditional way of life of aboriginal people is outback, hunter/gatherer and the places in which these people choose to live. I also found it really hard listening to the addrress-this young lady says' how other Australians can help my people" well I see her as my people-I am Australian like her, why cant 'her people' be 'my people' there is an identified barrier there-put by her to me and any 'other Australians'.This just made me feel sad.I work in health-the disparety between Aboriginal health and non Aboriginals is grotesque, and there are genuine reason for this-population placement is one and thus availability to supply, cultural differences is another and this comes from both the Aboriginal people themselves and the resources/personal in the health system. Perhaps it is not closing the gap but providing the best possible in the circumstances-eg: I do not think it is appropriate to ask someone to leave their people, land and support system to have surgery, but the reality is the surgery can only be done in certain places-so maybe the next option that the patient chooses should be accepted as the best treatment for that person.A novel approach I know! The young lady who addrressed the nation showed amazing spirit and an abilty to public speak that astounded me. Her parents I am sure are rightfully very proud.
Good on you Maddie! You are a courageous, intelligent and a dynamic young lady. Keep being motivated and you will accomplish great things in this life. Good Luck!!
Maddie, you are a brave and wonderful girl. You speak the words of so many people. My wishes are the same as you speak of, because my Grandmother wished for those very same things as a child, and growing up.. because she was taken. I hope that everyone that heard your address listened intently, and that your words reach many many people. For the sake of the future, for my children, for their children to come. Generation One... rocks!
Education for indigenous kids, yes, but it must be made available in the homelands as well as the cities. When the kids are finally removed from the homelands to larger centres, as seems to be the policy in the NT, the culture and spiritual attachment to the land will die. There is no way that Kumantjayi Perkins would support this. Right at this moment indigenous language in NT schools is being phased out, next the culture and the spirit. We need to strengthen the capacity of indigenous people to manage all aspects of the homelands, including education, thus enabling the future that One Generation speaks of. Lets not normalise this ancient culture, rather let us listen to what the custodians of indigenous heritage are saying. Listen to the spirit of Charlie Perkins.
Ah "That's My Little Charles Right there.: I love you Bubb...Norell
Its it great seeing our Communities GROWIN & comming together more & more now that they are Run by our Elders.......
I may have taught you something....my wonderful student. But you can teach us so much more....
I think you have the virtues of courage,detemination, strength, sincereity,hope, and generousity.
It'll br good to watch this progress
wow this is a good movement!
The time is now
i am very interested in where this is all heading
It's really inspiring about what you've done. I'm only thirteen myself and seeing you so enthusiastic about this issue is just amazing. I hope you will get across your message far and wide.