Deadly loss to hit young generations hardest
The 2014 Deadly Awards, which would have celebrated the Awards’ 20th anniversary, have been cancelled following cuts to the ceremony’s federal funding.
The Deadly Awards were the biggest and most conspicuous project of Deadly Vibe, a magazine and media organisation founded with the purpose of creating a positive space for Indigenous Australians.
Following the news of the steep cuts to the Awards’ government funding , Deadly Vibe founder Gavin Jones passed away on July 12 at the age of 47.
Luke Carroll, male lead in TV hit Redfern Now and host of the Deadly Awards in 2013, said the cancellation of the Deadlys will prove to be the greatest loss not for the participants, hosts or winners of Deadly Awards, but the children who grow up dreaming of winning one.
“There are so many kids in the communities I have travelled to who dream of winning a Deadly award one day,” he said.
“I really feel for those younger generations who will never get that chance.”
Mr Carroll told City Hub the idea of winning a Deadly was what inspired him as a young Indigenous actor.
“I will never forget my first Deadly nomination (in 2002). I didn’t win that year but I was determined to win it one day and that’s what pushed me forwards.”
“I was lucky enough to win one in 2009 and it is still the best moment of my career.”
When asked where his Deadly Award sits now, Mr Carroll said he gave it to his mother and it now has pride of place on her mantelpiece.
Acclaimed Australian actress and star of Redfern Now Leah Purcell also told City Hub she dreamed of winning a Deadly early on in her career.
“I have always considered winning a Deadly to be the very highest honour. It allows us to dream of being acknowledged by our peers and supported by our community and that is the most important thing of all,” she said.
“It was the one night of the year every Indigenous Australian got to hear about their heroes and role models in their community and feel they have something to aspire to.”
Ms Purcell also expressed concern that the young Indigenous population would suffer most from the loss of the Deadlys.
“Gavin’s goal was to promote positivity for young Indigenous people and I can’t tell you how much that helped the kids who read the magazine and who dreamed of growing up to attend the Deadlys one day.”
“They’ve ripped the heart out of a lot of young people by the loss of this company.”
Candice Lorrae, member of pop group The Merindas and nominee for Most Promising New Talent in Music, also said she used the Deadly Awards as her major musical milestone when she was growing up.
“As a young musician the Deadly Awards were always my motivation to make bigger plans.”
“We can’t keep taking away things our Indigenous kids look forward to.”
Ms Lorrae said that because The Merindas did not win the Deadly they were nominated for last year, they had spent the last twelve months working to ensure they could win in September.
Mr Carroll expressed his disappointment in the loss of other Deadly Vibe projects, such as the 3on3 basketball and hip hop tournament, which have also been cancelled due to funding cuts.
“3on3 travels all around the country, targeting children in remote areas who don’t have many resources.”
“We gave these kids something to look forward to each and every year and I very am concerned about the disappointment these kids will feel now it has been cancelled.”
Ms Lorrae told City Hub that she considered these Deadly Vibe workshops to be the best memories of her high school life.
Inspiring young members of the Indigenous community was among Mr Jones’ highest priorities.
In his last editorial for Deadly Vibe magazine, he wrote: “Overly negative media was the reason why we started Deadly Vibe magazine. To put something positive in the hands of our young people… Something our young people can get excited about, and be justifiably proud.”
Both Mr Carroll and Ms Purcell were hopeful the project will be reinstated.
“I believe in people power and I know something good can come of this,” said Ms Purcell.
“Hopefully, with community support, we can fund the project ourselves and not have to rely on the government to save the Deadlys,” said Mr Carroll.
“It is just too important to lose. We have the oldest living culture in the world here and every Australian should be proud of that.”
“We will not be defeated by budget cuts,” said Ms Purcell.
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