Perth Symphony Orchestra nailed a stunning performance at The 2021 Western Australian of the Year Awards (WAOTY) featuring soloist singers Lois Olney, Juliana Areias, Steve Hensby and the multicultural musicians of The Spirit Ensemble under the leadership of Pavan Kumar Hari. They played a brilliant new arrangement by Jet Kye Chong of iconic Western Australian folk-rock song “Wide Open Road” (The Triffids) composed by David Richard McComb. “Wide Open Road” is regarded as one of the Top 30 Australian songs of all time (named by APRA – Australasian Performing Rights Association in 2001). It is a song about acknowledging our losses and finding new perspectives in an open horizon of possibilities.

Jet Kye Chong, Lois Olney, Kate Pass, Julia Watson, Juliana Areias, Ciara Sudlow, Dympna Finch, Sivakumar Balakrishnan and Pavan Kumar Hari

The “Wide Open Road” eight minute orchestral arrangement performance, was a highly symbolic moment during the 2021 WAOTY Awards, uniting three voices to represent all voices of Australia – First Nations Yalbari-Yamatji singer Lois Olney’s from the Pilbara, welcoming all of us; UK-born singer Steve Hersby representing the first wave of immigrants; and Brazilian Singer Juliana Areias representing the new waves of Australian immigration. Cultural diversity was also present in the fantastic mix of instruments, rhythms, harmonies and melodies evoking ancestral sounds from Australia, Ireland, Japan, India, the Middle East and Latin America.

Lois Olney, Juliana Areias and Richard Walley

The “Welcome to country” was presented by its master, Dr. Richard Walley OAM, who reinvigorated the modern-day Welcome To Country in Noongar Country, a ceremony that is now established practice across Australia.

The last WAOTY Ceremony happened in 2019, before the covid pandemic – when Bourby Webster – founder and CEO of the Perth Symphony Orchestra was the recipient of the 2019 Arts and Culture WAOTY Award. Bourby had the pleasure of meeting up with this year’s Arts and Culture Category finalists Kylie Bracknell [Kaarljilba Kaardn], Iain Grandage (Perth Festival Director), Leon Pericles, Alec Coles and Julia Hales.

The Perth Symphony Orchestra is a not-for-profit professional symphony orchestra based in Perth, Western Australia. The orchestra aims to broaden access to classical music by performing in places and spaces not naturally associated with the genre. Since 2011 over 350,000 people have attended a Perth Symphony concert.

“What a night celebrating the exceptional people of Western Australia, this place I love to call home! Ancore! Ancore! Ancore! Viva Western Australia! Viva the Arts and the Multicultural diversity of Western Australia! There is no better place to be and make art! It is a privilege to know and work with these amazing musicians” – says Juliana Areias.

Geoffrey Drake-Brockman, Juliana Areias, Mark McGowan and Sarah McGowan

Richard Goyder was named 2021’s West Australian of the Year, not for his achievements in the boardroom of Telethon but for his commitment to philanthropy.

Mr Goyder took out the State’s top award at a gala ceremony on Friday the 4th of June at Crown Towers – presented by Western Australian Premier Mark McGowan.

The individual category winners were:

Karla Hart (Aboriginal Award)
Alec Coles OBE (Arts and Culture Award)
Julia Redwood (Business Award)
Professor Jonathan Carapetis AM (Professions Award)
Murray McHenry (Sport Award)
Kendall Whyte (Youth Award)

Congratulation to all 2021 Western Australian Of The Year winners and nominees.

#WADay #celebratewa #perthsymphonyorchestra #WAOTY #westernaustralianoftheyearawards #westernaustralia #markmcgowan #wideopenroad #welcometocountry #australia #richardwalley #spiritensemble #LoisOlney #JulianaAreias, #SteveHensby #PavanKumarHari #JetKyeChong #RichardGoyder #telethon #KarlaHart #AlecColes #JuliaRedwood #JonathanCarapetis #MurrayMcHenry #KendallWhyte #KylieBracknell #KaarljilbaKaardn #IainGrandage #perthfestival #LeonPericles

Geoffrey Drake-Brockman & Juliana Areias

More about the 2021 WAOTY Award Winners: (The West Australian Newspaper Sat 5 June 2021 – https://thewest.com.au/news/telethon-chair-richard-goyder-named-2021-west-australian-of-the-year-ng-b881890814z.amp

Telethon chair Richard Goyder named 2021 West Australian of the Year, calls to ‘make WA better’

Kate Emery and Brianna DuganThe West AustralianFri, 4 June 2021 11:00PMComments

Richard Goyder AO has been named West Australian of the Year for 2021. Credit: Daniel Wilkins/The West Australian

He has already dominated the business world.

Now Richard Goyder has been named 2021’s West Australian of the Year, not for his achievements in the boardroom but for his commitment to philanthropy.

Mr Goyder took out the State’s top award at a gala ceremony tonight at Crown Towers. There was also recognition for one of the State’s esteemed research scientists, a former backpacker from Britain who came to Perth with a dream of making a movie, and a young woman inspired by personal tragedy.

The Telethon chairman oversaw last year’s record-breaking $46.3 million result at the fundraiser, which came at a crucial time for many in the non-profit sector that have had their coffers decimated by the COVID-19 pandemic as fundraising plans had to be cancelled or scaled back.

Mr Goyder, who grew up on a wheat and sheep farm 300km south-east of Perth, also chairs the WA Symphony Orchestra, Qantas, Woodside, the Australian Football League and diabetes not-for-profit JDRF.

Janine Goyder and Richard Goyder at the 2021 West Australian of the Year Awards. Credit: Daniel Wilkins/The West Australian

He beat 36 other finalists across seven categories to take out the community award and the top honour.

“I’m ambitious, not for me but for the people I work for and the place I live in,” Mr Goyder said during his acceptance speech.

“For many of us we just won lotto being born in this state.

“I think we can be better —we can always be better. I think we can be more passionate and tolerant as a community.

“I think we can and should be more creative.

“I have surrounded myself with people who are better than me. I have engaged with wonderful people, many of whom are in this room who give so much of themselves to this community.

“John Kennedy said famously ‘do something’ so I say do. Don’t criticise from the sideline — that’s too easy and destructive.

“I hope this award reinforces how important community is, and hopefully it gives the organisations I’m involved in some additional momentum because we all need it at the moment.”

Mr Goyder said in his speech he believed reconciliation needed to happen ‘a lot faster’ in the WA community.

“There are many ways we can make this happen. I have opportunities through the AFL and through the businesses I am involved in to make sure we are promoting a voice for Indigenous Australians, and I think that’s going to be very important in terms of our reconciliation journey,” he said.

“I’m most excited for the Long Walk tomorrow. The game will be great and the AFL events team will put on a really special day, but the walk is something really special. To recognise Indigenous players will be just a great feeling. It will be a good celebration for Perth.”

AFL chairman Richard Goyder at Optus Stadium. Credit: Daniel Wilkins

Speaking after winning the Community Award, Mr Goyder said, “I think it’s an acknowledgement of all the people I work with. Also the passion and commitment of the community I am involved in.”

“We are ambitious, we want to raise more money and help more people. I have type one diabetes and I am passionate about finding a cure for that,” he said.

The individual category winners, also announced tonight, were:

Karla Hart (Aboriginal Award)
Alec Coles OBE (Arts and Culture Award)
Julia Redwood (Business Award)
Professor Jonathan Carapetis AM (Professions Award)
Murray McHenry (Sport Award)
Kendall Whyte (Youth Award)

Ms Hart is an award-winning artist, filmmaker and actor as well as a presenter for Noongar Radio, where she introduced the first Noongar language program.

Her work has included roles with women’s dance group Kwarbah Djookian and acting in Yirra Yaakin’s King Hit, which told the story of Noongar boxer Geoffrey Narkle.

“I’m just blown away — I didn’t expect to win because there are so many amazing people in my category,” Ms Hart said.

“This means so much to me, for my county, people and my family, especially all my Noongar people. It’s a responsibility of mine to go forth and take all the opportunities my grandma never had.”

Mr Coles is chief executive at the State’s new $405 million WA Museum. The museum’s name Boola Bardip means “many stories” in the Noongar language and one of the key features of the museum is its focus on the State’s Indigenous past and a desire to showcase Aboriginal work.

WA Museum Director Alec Coles. Credit: Ross Swanborough/The West Australian

Ms Redwood is the co-founder of Prospero Productions, the production company behind documentaries about the loss of HMAS Sydney, the Piper Alpha offshore oil disaster, the world of SAS soldiers and the rise in fatal shark attacks. She, and her then business partner Ed Punchard, started the company in 1991 despite never having made a film before as a newly arrived backpacker from Britain.

“I’m totally shocked and surprised but absolutely delighted,” she said after her win.

“For the arts and entertainment sector to be recognised under the business award is extremely important for me.

“To be represented and acknowledged by Western Australia in that way, I’m just absolutely stoked.

“What would I say to someone aspiring to be in the arts community? Just go for it. Just have a go and hang in there. Just don’t give up, you just can’t. There are times when you really want to just give up but just hang in there.”

Julia Redwood. Credit: Iain Gillespie/The West Australian

Prospero has gone on to become WA’s biggest employer in the independent screen sector and Ms Redwood told The West Australian that the industry was now “absolutely desperate” for people.

“This State is a lot more than just mining. Not that there’s anything wrong with mining, but millions of dollars come into this State through this industry,” she said.

Professor Carapetis is a world-leading expert on Streptococcus A infections and rheumatic heart disease as well as executive director of the Telethon Kids Institute and president of the Association of Australian Medical Research Institutes.

Telethon Kids Institute director, Professor Jonathan Carapetis. Credit: Nic Ellis/The West Australian

In addition to his research, he has played a key role in boosting the number of women, trans and Aboriginal researchers at the Telethon Kids Institute. He also emerged as a leading voice in the early days of the COVID pandemic, urging West Australians to do their part to flatten the curve.

“I think it’s an amazing acknowledgement to the people who are behind me at the Telethon Institute — the people and teachers who do all the work,” he said.

“Telethon Kids Institute has some big exciting plans. We are 31-32 years old and we are in the middle of ramping up the work we do.

“Above all, be driven by what’s important to you and your values. Take your time and do the things that strike you in the heart. It doesn’t matter about the money, it’s about what makes you feel great”

Mr McHenry’s career has involved his two great loves: football and pubs. Born into a hotelier family he bought the Nedlands pub Steve’s at the age of just 27, turning it into a popular place for local musicians to play. These days he has a family winery in Margaret River and helps run a hospitality supply business. He also played a key role in the formation of the West Coast Eagles and went on to chair the WA Football Commission until 2019.

“Well it actually means a lot to people other than myself,” he said about his award.

“The people before me and the people who are going on with sports in Western Australia. For example the West Coast Eagles are a massive icon in our state. For me I was there day one and to see where it is today, it just means a lot for those involved.”

“I’m looking forward to the walk tomorrow for the Dreamtime game. It’s a wonderful thing to happen to Western Australia — sad that’s it’s COVID but it’s great for WA”

Blue Tree Project’s Kendall Whyte poses next to the blue tree at Walter Point in Bicton. Credit: Kelsey Reid/The West Australian

As chief executive and co-founder of Blue Tree Project, Ms Whyte is one of the people behind the painted blue trees that most West Australians will have seen scattered across the State.

The social movement was born out of tragedy after she lost her brother, Jayden, to suicide and the inspiration was a prank Jayden had once played on his father, sneaking on to the family farm to paint a dead tree blue. There are now 612 blue trees across Australia, New Zealand, Europe, Britain and the US, each a visual reminder for people to look after their mental health and check in on their loved ones.

“It’s an absolute honour,” she said.

“It’s a very bitter sweet moment. I will use this opportunity to spread our mission further. We have lots of exciting things to come, it’s amazing.”

Premier Mark McGowan said, “it’s an excellent night and it showcases the best of Western Australian generosity, compassion and selflessness.

“It’s amazing in a world full of COVID we can celebrate events like this.

“You wouldn’t do this in Melbourne, but here you can do these sorts of events and have a great weekend of celebrations and fun.

“We can also have a range of people coming together tonight to acknowledge other West Australians who have done a great job over the course of year.”

Sarah McGowan and Premier Mark McGowan with Sandy Anghie and Michael Anghie. Credit: Daniel Wilkins/The West Australian, Daniel Wilkins Picture: Daniel Wilkins

Celebrate WA chair Michael Anghie said the annual awards highlighted the “extraordinary people … who make WA such an incredible place”.

“Richard has made an outstanding contribution to West Australians’ and Australians’ lives in so many ways,” he said. “Throughout his career he has ensured that supporting the community is always a key part of his focus, and I cannot think of a better person to be our 2021 Western Australian of the Year.

“I also congratulate all of the category winners and finalists, who are truly inspirational West Australians who have not only excelled in their chosen fields but also made a significant contribution to the broader community.”

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See the photos from the gala event: