Talented youngsters Josh Muir and Amber Barker Lovett have been announced as Ballarat’s inaugural Mr and Ms NAIDOC.
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The pair were announced by the Ballarat and District Aboriginal Cooperative on Friday night.
Mr and Ms NAIDOC titles recognise two young local Aboriginal people between 12–24 years of age that have made considerable contributions to the Ballarat community.
Mr Muir, a proud Yorta Yorta, Gunditjmara Man, is an outstanding artist who has overcome many personal challenges in his life.
He uses his artistic ability to inspire other young Aboriginal people and keep Aboriginal culture alive.
Mr Muir, 24, said art had been a release for him during his troubled late teenage years, where he was in a “dark place”.
“During my teenage years I had a bit of a tough time coming to terms with how I had so much potential and I just wasn’t accepting it,” he said.
“I probably rebelled a little bit and made some poor decisions. That led to me going through a dark place in life.
“I’ve been practising art for the last five years and I’ve had quite a great deal of success with it.
“I use art in a way of channeling my energy – it’s helped me find my way.”
NAIDOC Week celebrations are held across Australia each July to celebrate the history, culture and achievements of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples.
Ms Barker Lovett is a proud member of Gunditjmara/Wemba Wemba women.
She is completing year 12 at Pheonix P-12 Community College this year and will be the first of her family to do so.
Ms Barker Lovett has been a part of the Australian Indigenous Mentoring Project for three years and is now a mentor for other Aboriginal girls.
She was also instrumental in re-starting the Namarilly Bagarook Dance Group, which now regularly performs at many community events in Ballarat.
Her goal is to work in remote communities to help people reach their full potential.