Aunty Lindy Lawler and Mayor Chris Homer. Photo: Shellharbour City Council.
WARNING: Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander readers are advised that the following story mentions people who have died.
Putting her heart and soul into the community is what led Stolen Generations survivor Aunty Lindy Lawler to be honoured with an Outstanding Contribution to Reconciliation (Aboriginal) award.
Presented at the 2025 Local Government Regional NAIDOC Awards in Shellharbour, the award recognised Aunty Lindy’s tireless work to support Aboriginal young people and organisations in the Illawarra.
An Aboriginal elder and Yuin woman, she was one of 11 Illawarra and Shoalhaven Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander elders, young people, volunteers, organisations and allies honoured for making a meaningful impact.
Aunty Lindy said she received a Nanga Mai Award last year for her contribution to Aboriginal education, but receiving an award in Shellharbour where she undertook much of her work was special, describing it as “incredible and something I’ll never get over”.
She said her work was simply “giving back to the community”, something she’d long taught the young people she worked with.
“You don’t give up on your dreams and you always visualise what you want out of life. That’s what I’ve been teaching,” she said.
“You just do what you love doing. Always choose to do things with your heart and soul, and know what it wants.
“I do this for the community but also for South Coast people.
“I want to let them know that a survivor from the past has done everything she could in her power to make things happen.”
Her career as a passionate advocate for education began when her grandchildren started school, leading her to deliver Aboriginal education at Illawarra primary and high schools.
She now also works with the Illawarra Women’s Health Centre, the Illawarra Aboriginal Medical Service, Lake Illawarra Police’s Commanders Active Citizen Program (CACP), Shellharbour Council, Wollongong Cultural Centre and the Historical Aircraft Restoration Society in Shellharbour.
Driven by her own childhood experiences after she and her twin sister were taken from their family and endured years of abuse, Aunty Lindy has focused her efforts on empowering young people.
“It’s giving back what I lost as a child not having had a lovely education behind me,” she said.
“My plan is to continue to do what I love doing.
“My twin sister and I never had the chance to do all the things that I’m doing right now.
“Even though she passed away with cancer, it’s my turn having what she had with cancer, but the cancer doesn’t stop me from doing what I love.
“That’s my healing and that’s my medicine.”
2025 NAIDOC Awards and the ceremonial Message Stick. Photo: Shellharbour City Council.
Her work spans multiple areas, including mental health, cultural education, and providing mentorship.
Aunty Lindy’s award also highlights her role in preserving and promoting Indigenous culture, with her own children and grandchildren learning from her remarkable journey.
“What’s important to me is that my son and daughter, and my grandchildren, know all this because they are learning about their cultures now,” she said.
“It’s also showing them that their nan’s gone through a lot of good and bad in her time with their aunty, but she never gave up.”
Hosted by Isaac Compton and headlined by the powerful vocals of Kutcha Edwards, the evening was filled with cultural pride, heartfelt storytelling, and vibrant performances.
Shellharbour City Mayor Chris Homer said the awards night captured the spirit of this year’s NAIDOC Week theme, The Next Generation: Strength, Vision and Legacy.
“This year marks 50 years of NAIDOC Week, and we were proud to reflect on the legacy of our elders past and present while celebrating the leadership and promise of the next generation,” Cr Homer said.
“Congratulations to all the award recipients and nominees. Each one has made an outstanding contribution to their community and deserves to be recognised.”
The awards were delivered by Shellharbour City Council in partnership with Wollongong , Kiama and Shoalhaven councils.
Winners of the 2025 Local Government Regional NAIDOC Awards:
- Elder of the Year (Aunty): Aunty Gwenda Jarrett
- Elder of the Year (Uncle): Uncle Stanley Jarrett
- Community Member of the Year: Ray Timbery
- Young Achiever of the Year: Kyarlee-Rose Clulow
- Young Achiever of the Year: Marle Ashby
- Caring for Country and Culture: Betty Smith
- Aboriginal Community Volunteer of the Year: Tina McGhie
- Organisation of the Year (business): CMJ Food Services
- Organisation of the Year (not-for-profit): Juborsay Aboriginal Education Consultative Group
- Outstanding Contribution to Reconciliation (Aboriginal): Aunty Lindy Lawler
- Outstanding Contribution to Reconciliation (non-Aboriginal): UOW Pulse – Kids’ Uni
