Matcham Caine
Three past and present Indigenous Byron Bay High School students have been successful in this year’s Australia Day awards.
The students are: Nickolla Clark, Kiahn Ladkin, and Mia Thom.
Local Arakwal Indigenous custodian, Nickolla Clark, won the Creative Artist of the Year Award.
She has been recognised for her commitment to her Indigenous heritage and her generosity in sharing her culture and skills with younger Indigenous children and the wider community.
Kiahn Ladkin, a young Awabakal woman, was a runner up for the Creative Artist of the Year Award.
She was recognised for her commitment to dance and her generosity in sharing her Indigenous cultural heritage and dance skills with younger Indigenous students in the Byron Shire.
Mia Thom, an emerging Bundjalung leader, won the Young Citizen of the Year Award. The award recognises her commitment to environmental issues, including leadership of the local Student Strike 4 Climate protests.
Sharing culture
It also recognises Mia’s generosity in sharing her culture at school and volunteering at Indigenous homework clubs.
Byron Bay High School are extremely proud of the achievements of these young Indigenous women.
Their awards are highly deserved and deliver hope for the future of reconciliation in this country.
♦ Matcham is from Byron Bay High School.
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