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Tuesday, 28 January, 2014 14 4
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Citizen of the Year
.com.au Tuesday, 28 January,
2014 Page 1
Propertyy Lift out
Beauty Queens THE Miss Gay and Miss Transsexual Australia is coming to town. Billed as an alternative beauty pageant, the Miss Universe-style competition has its very own swimsuit section, evening gowns and talent section. Turn to page 4 to read the full story. 113233 Picture: KRISTIAN SCOTT
By CHARLENE MACAULAY
Francine Riches own community and providing pastoral care. “There’s been lots of hurt with our people, and to be able to heal you need to recognise that hurt and acknowledge the future,” Ms Riches said. Ms Riches was one of six award winners at the Civic Awards, which was held for the first time as a public event at Maribyrnong’s Coulson Gardens. Nexhmije Llugiqi was named Young Citizen of the Year, Catherine Reichart received the Mayoral Award for Lifetime Achievement, while Stephen Miles, the Yarraville Community Centre and Perfect Global Soluations were also honoured at the event. Meanwhile, around 60 City of Maribyrnong residents became dinky-di Aussies at a special citizenship ceremony.
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MEET the City of Maribyrnong’s first Indigenous Citizen of the Year. Maribyrnong resident Francine Riches took out the municipality’s top honour over the weekend at the council’s annual Australia Day Civic Awards ceremony. “I feel really blessed, and I’d like to say it’s a real pleasure and privilege to live in this community, and to bring people together, both Indigenous and non-Indigenous,” Ms Riches said. Ms Riches is an artist that has dedicated her life to bridge the gap between the Indigenous and nonIndigenous community. She was born in the Kimberleys a Bardi-Djawi woman and moved to Maribyrnong four years ago after one of her three sons received a sports scholarship through Maribyrnong Secondary College. She has furthered reconciliation by playing an integral role in developing and implementing Reconciliation Action Plans at the Western Region Health Centre and Maribyrnong Secondary College. As a practising artist for the past 25 years, Ms Riches has developed and supported the artistic talents of local Indigenous people. She has also established a national program to support young Indigenous people by connecting them with chaplaincy from their