Reconciliation Australia Co-Chair Melinda Cilento has extended her warm and heartfelt congratulations to Dr Tom Calma AO, Ms Shelley Reys AO and Mr Ivan Copley OAM for their Order of Australia honours.
“It is with great pride that I congratulate my Co-Chair colleague Dr Tom Calma for his Officer of the Order of Australia honour,” Ms Cilento said.
“Tom is a well-respected and tireless campaigner for social justice and is unwavering in his commitment to closing the gaps that exist between Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples and other Australians.
“The many roles Tom plays are just a small indication of his generosity of spirit that permeates everything he does and his personal belief in the human rights of all people.”
Ms Cilento also congratulated former Reconciliation Australia Board Director Ms Shelley Reys and Reconciliation South Australia Director Mr Ivan Copley for their AO and OAM honours respectively.
“Shelley was the inaugural Co-Chair of Reconciliation Australia and during her time on the Board had an enormous impact across all our work, but none more so than recognising and celebrating Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples’ achievements—work she continues in her role as Deputy Chair of the National Australia Day Council,” Ms Cilento said.
“Ivan is doing exceptional cross cultural work in South Australia particularly with young Aboriginal people. He is an outstanding role model, a very talented artist and an asset to the reconciliation movement.”
On behalf of the Reconciliation Board Ms Cilento also congratulated other Indigenous recipients and non-Indigenous Australians working to improve the lives of first Australians.
“Recognising the work of these great reconciliation champions gives me great hope for the future of our country,” Ms Cilento said.
