Kim Scott Named Western Australian of the Year
Kim Scott, a multi-award-winning writer and member of the Noongar community, is Western Australia’s citizen of the year for 2012. Scott’s writing, research and community involvement were behind his selection. ‘His writing is valued for the discussion it stimulates in the wider community, and for helping to propel Noongar culture into the present in a dynamic way.’
The WA government also noted that Scott uses ‘writing and research to help return oral histories and archival language material to communities and is deeply involved in language recovery projects, returning language material to its home community’. (Winners' announcement)
The Western Australian of the Year Awards, known as the WA Citizen of the Year Awards from 1973 to 2011, ‘recognise the highest level of contribution made to Western Australia by those born or bred in WA, or those who have chosen to make Western Australia their home’. The awards are offered in six individual categories as well as the overarching honour of Western Australian of the Year. Scott also won the Indigenous category award ‘for professional and personal contribution and achievements of an inspirational role model for Indigenous people and the Western Australian community’.
For further information on the Western Australian of the Year Awards, visit the Celebrate WA website.