AFL inclusion and social policy general manager Tanya Hosch named SA Citizen of the Year
An Aboriginal woman who has dedicated her life to fighting racism, a legendary footballer, a young woman who breaks down stigma about menstruation and a disability advocate have been recognised in this year’s SA Citizen of the Year awards.
SA News
Don't miss out on the headlines from SA News. Followed categories will be added to My News.
An Indigenous woman who has dedicated her life to fighting racism is South Australia’s Citizen of the Year.
AFL inclusion and social policy general manager Tanya Hosch received the award during a ceremony at Adelaide Oval, which also recognised a legendary footballer, a young woman who campaigns against stigma about menstruation and a 76-year-old disability advocate.
Ms Hosch, 49, was the first Indigenous woman to be appointed as a senior executive of the AFL, joining the organisation in the aftermath of racist slurs against star players Adam Goodes, Eddie Betts and Paddy Ryder.
Ms Hosch secured an apology from the AFL over the treatment by fans of Goodes during matches and was instrumental in the erection of a statue of Nicky Winmar outside Optus Stadium in Perth.
Along with overhauling the AFL’s anti-vilification policy she founded advocacy organisation, The Indigenous Players Alliance.
Before joining the AFL, Ms Hosch was a public servant working with young Aboriginal offenders. She later became the joint director of Recognise, which continues campaigning for Indigenous people to be recognised in the Australian Constitution. She remains a board member of the Indigenous Land Corporation. Ms Hosch was raised in Adelaide by adoptive parents and attended Gilles Plains Primary School and Enfield High School.
Accepting her award from Governor Hieu Van Le, Ms Hosch – raised in Adelaide by adoptive parents – said she rarely was congratulated for trying to achieve reconciliation by “raising issues like racism and other forms of discrimination.”
“I make myself unpopular more than anything else but that is also a great privilege,” she said. “But you can’t change things on your own, it takes a community, it takes a whole society. If you get the opportunity, use your voice to make sure that people don’t forget that everyone matters, that not one of us is any better than anyone else, regardless of your station in your life, regardless of the privileges you’ve had.
“It’s only by working together for the things that matter does change happen.”
Congratulating Ms Hosch, other award recipients and all finalists, Mr Van Le said they were examples of South Australians who selflessly contributed to their communities.
Mr Van Le said the recent efforts of South Australians during the outbreak of COVID-19 – and how the state brought it under control had shown what an egalitarian society its citizens shared.
“South Australians have reason to acknowledge that our state that our state remains one of the safest places in the world,” he said. “This is a solid testimony to the strong community spirit here in South Australia. Everyone is prepared to make some personal sacrifice in the interests of the whole of society.”
Premier Steven Marshall said being able to hold the event publicly was “about the generosity” of all South Australians who contributed to ensuring COVID-19 was contained – and a credit to the entire state.
“What we have achieved here is a great celebration of what it means to be South Australians,” he said.
“I’m very confident that the great South Australian character that has got us to this enviable situation tonight will continue and carry us into the future.”
Other finalists for Citizen of the Year were chief medical officer Dr Nicola Spurrier, who led South Australia’s public health response to the pandemic, Safe Pets Safe Families founder Jennifer Howard and Birthing Kits initiator Dr Joy O’Hazy.
SA CITIZEN OF THE YEAR: TANYA HOSCH
Raised in Adelaide by adoptive parents, Ms Hosch, 49, was the first woman to be appointed as a senior executive of the AFL as its inclusion and social policy general manager. A lifelong campaigner for Indigenous rights, she has helped overhaul the AFL’s anti-vilification policy and its recognition of female players.
LOCAL HERO – RUSSELL EBERT OAM
A four-time Magarey Medal winner, the 71-year-old former Port Adelaide FC champion leads the club’s community programs to support youths and educate Year 10 boys about domestic violence.
SA SENIOR AUSTRALIAN – RICHARD BRUGGEMAnN
Professor Bruggemann, 76, is an expert on disability services, rights and legislation. He has sat on more than 20 boards and committees and was part of the Ann Marie Smith task force.
YOUNG AUSTRALIAN – ISOBEL MARSHALL
The 18-year-old Adelaide woman and her business partner, Eloise Hall, run TABOO, a social business enterprise aimed at breaking down stigma about menstruation and providing better access to sanitary products. The pair send their profits to girls and women in Sierra Leone and Uganda. They also have formed a partnership with Vinnies to provide hygiene products to women needing emergency shelter.
