Pride of Australia nominee Elijah Douglas preserving far north’s indigenous culture

HE’S an author, didgeridoo maker and player, indigenous youth parliamentarian and events organiser ... all at the tender age of 17.

Elijah is the pride of northwest

HE HAS written his first novel, is on to his second book about the Dreamtime and Australian history, has represented Queensland at Gallipoli and this year was chosen to be part of the National indigenous Youth Parliament in Canberra.

But it’s what happens when Elijah Douglas, 17, goes back home to Doomadgee in northwest Queensland and how proud he is of his culture, that is perhaps most inspiring.

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“The community itself, they are very supportive — a lot of the locals come up to me and they tell me ‘Keep going’, they say, ‘You are making a good name for Doomadgee, keep it up’,” Elijah said.

The Spinifex State College boarder, who makes and plays didgeridoos, runs school cultural events, was one of the Queensland’s inaugural Premier’s Anzac Prize winners and one day wants to become prime minister, has been nominated for the Pride of Australia Young Leader Medal.

Pride of Australia young leader nominee, Spinifex State College student Elijah Douglas of Doomadgee.

“I want to help to make a change in Australia, especially help Aboriginal people,” he said, adding education, health, employment and reconnecting with culture were the keys to change for indigenous communities.

“A lot of indigenous young people, they are out on the streets, they don’t know what their true identity is, they don’t have a connection with their culture.

“Our culture is really strong and that is what can help us achieve more things.

“Start off little and maybe something big will grow out of it.”

Doomadgee Mayor Fred O’Keefe said it was extremely hard and highly unusual for a young man to leave his remote community and finish high school, let alone achieve what Elijah had accomplished and the council was really proud of him.

“He has achieved what no other young fella has achieved in my opinion in my community,” Cr O’Keefe said.

“He should be very, very proud of himself.”