Jessica Mauboy named Indigenous Artist of the Year
Jessica Mauboy has been named ‘Female Artist of the Year’ at the annual Indigenous awards show in Australia. The former Australian Idol contestant, who is a staunch supporter of various Aboriginal charities, was given the gong at the Deadly Awards ceremony in Sydney Opera House last night.
City Homicide actor Aaron Pederson hosted the show and also won the award for ‘Best Actor’, while singer Gurrumul Yunupingu took home the ‘Male Artist of the Year’ and ‘Album of the Year’ titles.
Deborah Mailman won the ‘Best Female Actor’ category for her role as Cherie in Offspring, a year after winning the same title for movie Bran Nue Dae. Film of the year went to Mad B**tards, band Iwantja were named ‘Most Promising New Talent in Music’ and The Last Kinection won ‘Single Release of the Year’ and ‘Band of the Year’.
Sports captain Johnathan Thurston was given the ‘Outstanding Achievement in NRL’ prize, Andrew Walker won the AFL equivalent and Melbourne Tigers basketball player Patrick Mills topped the ‘Sportsman of the Year’ category.
The event’s producer Gavin Jones told AAP: “The Deadlys go from strength to strength each year.
“We have strong finalists and winners to showcase, some of Indigenous Australia’s best talent to grace the Opera House state and the overwhelming support of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders and the wider Australian public as ingredients that produce a very successful national awards night.”