New South Wales recently celebrated the powerful leadership and community-driven work of First Nations women at the Aboriginal Women of the Year awards, and this year's winner, Marjorie Anderson, has truly left a mark as a trailblazer and advocate for cultural and community transformation.
The Gamilaroi woman born and raised in Redfern co-designed Indigenous crisis support line 13 YARN which has received close to 70,000 calls less than three years after launching.
Ms Anderson expressed her gratitude and humility, sharing that she never expected to receive the honour, especially given the incredible First Nations women among the finalists.
"Thank you. I'm really humbled too, because there were so many great women in that finalist group, I didn’t expect to win," she told NITV.
Reflecting on the significance of the award, she shared that it's not often you get to stop and reflect on the work that she's done for her community.
"It means so much because it's a real recognition of the hard work that you do. You slog away and slog away, and you don't think about awards or anything like that.
"You're just doing your best, and it's nice that people recognise the work you do."
While Anderson was honoured, she acknowledged the strength and dedication of many other remarkable women in her community, both in her category and other fields.
She offered important advice to the next generation of Blak women who may be scared to follow their dreams.
"You just got to go for it... you just keep going and moving forward.
"Be brave and be bold. Pick what you're passionate about, and you will always have the drive and energy to deliver."
Her message was clear: persistence and passion are key to overcoming obstacles. She added that women should be bold in pursuing their goals, even if that means facing criticism or setbacks.
"People will say you're too loud. People will say you're a nuisance. You'll probably get sacked from a few jobs, which I have, but that's fine. Move on and go where the elders put you," she said.
"I never have planned my career. I always say the elders put me where I need to be when I need to be there."
As an advocate for First Nations women, Anderson recognises that the journey to success often comes with hurdles, but her message to others is one of resilience.
"Don't let the hard times really be what defines you. Look at the hard times, learn from them, because I say that people send you hard times because there's good times around the corner.
"You need those hard times to keep yourself humble and just go forward and go for what you want."
Marjorie Anderson’s win not only highlights her individual achievements but also the strength, resilience, and bravery of Blak women who continue to drive change for their communities.
Her work serves as a beacon of hope and inspiration, a reminder that leadership comes in many forms and often starts with courage, humility, and a deep connection to culture.
