Index
04 August 2010
Samson and Delilah tells story of the year
A panel of communications experts addressed the audience: Niki Savva, Lyn Allison and John Armitage. Pictures by Reinar Rivera.
The ballroom at the Windsor was packed with industry professionals.
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Two named RMIT Communicator of the Year 22/05/2009
Warwick Thornton, the critically acclaimed screenwriter, cinematographer and director of Australian film, Samson and Delilah, is the 2010 RMIT University Communicator of the Year.
The Communicator of the Year award recognises a person with exceptional communication ability proven by an outstanding social or community outcome.
Mr Thornton was announced the winner at the annual award breakfast at the Hotel Windsor.
Samson and Delilah is a moving and uncompromising look at Aboriginal life. It speaks of the policy imperatives Australia faces and of the pressing need for reconciliation.
Accepting the award in a video presentation recorded for this morning’s breakfast, Mr Thornton thanked RMIT and spoke about his experience telling this powerful story.
He said: “I think that part of our problem as Indigenous people and Australia in general is that we leave things in cupboards, and they go mouldy.
“We need to wash them and air them because there are problems in this country, and hopefully there will be more people like me who bring these things out and ‘put them on clotheslines’,” Mr Thornton said.
Mr Thornton spoke about his current projects, which include Art and Soul, a three-part television series about Indigenous art.
Professor Stephanie Hemelryk Donald, Dean of RMIT’s School of Media and Communication, said: “Warwick’s powerful message about Australia and Indigenous life went around the world.
“Samson and Delilah is not only a great work of art but also an uncompromising engagement with Indigenous life, the policy imperatives Australia faces and the need for reconciliation in Australia.
“Since the film’s release, Warwick has undertaken far-ranging communication activities which have made a profound contribution to increasing awareness of the challenges we face.”
A panel addressed the breakfast on politics and public relations. Speakers were:
- Lyn Allison, former Senator and leader of the Australian Democrats
- John Armitage, Auspoll director and Bracks Government pollster
- Niki Savva, former political reporter and media adviser to Peter Costello
