OUR SPOKESPEOPLE
Tania Major
Tania Major is a Kokoberra woman from the remote community of Kowanyama in Cape York Queensland. She holds a degree in Criminology from Griffith University, and at 21 became the youngest elected regional councillor in the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Commission (ATSIC).
Tania was honoured by being named the Young Australian of the Year in January 2007. She was also voted as Young Leader of the year for the 2007 Deadly Awards, and YEN Young Woman of the Year for Community Vision.
Tania has also achieved international recognition in winning the Political Legal and/or Government Affairs section of the Junior Chamber International’s Outstanding Young Persons of the World contest held in India in 2007.
Since 2002 Tania has publicly addressed many national and international forums, speaking on Indigenous and Youth affairs as these relate to remote communities, particularly those in Cape York.
Along with her mentor, Noel Pearson, she has tried to bring the realities of life in many of these communities to the foreground of wider Australian thinking and to engage mainstream Australians in the collaborative challenge of seeking solutions to long standing problems.
She has recently completed her Masters degree in Public Policy at Sydney University and hopes to broaden her work as an advocate for fundamental change and to strengthen understanding between Indigenous, and all other, Australians.
Jeremy Donovan
Internationally renowned didgeridoo player, Jeremy Donovan has joined with Tania Major, the GenerationOne team, and their supporters to promote a message of generational change aimed at ending Aboriginal disadvantage.
“I believe that the right time to come together and act is now,” said Jeremy.
He is from the Kuku Yalanji people of far North Queensland and the Gumbaynngirr people of the mid North Coast of NSW.
An enthusiastic GenerationOne supporter since its launch in 2010, when the Opera House launch and road-show captured his attention, Jeremy is thrilled to be taking on the role of spokesperson.
The mission and values of GenerationOne are closely aligned with Jeremy’s personal beliefs: that empowering people through education, training and employment is crucial to creating equal opportunities for all Australians.
He is passionate about eradicating ignorance and believes that when all Australians join together “we have a generation of people who are more concerned, more willing to look at the truth, and are more willing to be a part of the change,” he said.
Jeremy has seen his fair share of tears, anger and pain in Aboriginal people and their communities over the years; and, like GenerationOne supporters, he knows there have also been lots of success stories, celebrations and smiles. It’s these smiles and successes that he wants to help celebrate.
Jeremy is a veteran of promoting change in Australia. “Through my music and presentations, I can share what Aboriginal culture is and can be,” he said.
Elders from his homelands and from various communities across Australia and the world have had a powerful effect on Jeremy’s life. They have encouraged Jeremy to be ambitious, share his cultural knowledge, and to be a leader. They have spurred on his determination to make a difference.
His new role as a GenerationOne spokesperson allows him to continue his leadership, and to promote change.
He has spent countless hours learning from his uncles and grandfather about how to strengthen his Aboriginal identity and traditions, and express his culture.
Using his vast knowledge and skills, Jeremy has worked tirelessly for ten years running his own business, ‘Walking With Wisdom’. Through this, he actively strives to break down racial barriers, reconnect disengaged youth with their culture, and celebrate the richness of Aboriginal life and culture.
The GenerationOne team are excited to have Jeremy on board as a spokesperson.
“We are looking forward to building the partnership with Jeremy, and utilising his talents to help showcase the amazing and positive stories Indigenous people have to share across the country,” CEO of GenerationOne, Tim Gartrell, said.
Jeremy has been following the development of the Skills and Training for a Career policy that is set for release early in 2012, and believes it “shows an honest opportunity for training that will lead to a real career for Aboriginal people.”
Jeremy said that he loves the GenerationOne message, and that GenerationOne beliefs are very closely aligned with his own daily life.
Look out for Jeremy at upcoming GenerationOne events!
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