Two-time Wimbledon winner and former Australian of the Year Evonne Goolagong Cawley has been appointed to the Board of the Indigenous Land Corporation (ILC).
The appointment to the Australian Government statutory authority was made by Families, Community Services and Indigenous Affairs Minister Mal Brough.
“I am pleased to announce the appointment of Evonne Goolagong Cawley as a director on the ILC Board for the next four years,” Minister Brough said.
“The ILC is doing valuable work in ensuring Indigenous people derive direct economic, social, cultural or environmental benefits from owning land,” Minister Brough said.
“In recent times, the ILC Board has moved to ensure that employment, training and educational benefits have been the focus of its land acquisition and land management programs with a particular emphasis on helping young Indigenous people to develop skills and win mainstream jobs.
“Since her return to Australia in 1991, Evonne has put an enormous amount of time and energy into working with young Indigenous people to develop their sporting and leadership potential and this experience will be of great assistance to the ILC in regard to its forward-looking programs,” the Minister said.
ILC Chairperson Shirley McPherson said fellow Board Directors were delighted that Ms Goolagong Cawley had accepted the appointment.
“Evonne is a well-known and well-respected Australian who will further lift the positive profile of the ILC and help direct the crucial work it is doing to provide a sustainable land base for Indigenous people,” Ms McPherson said.
“The ILC has many exciting projects under way, such as the construction of a National Indigenous Development Centre in Redfern which will host 5,000 young Indigenous people from across Australia each year to take part in sporting, leadership and educational development programs.
“Evonne’s insight into the successful implementation of such programs, along with her broader knowledge of building partnerships between communities, large organisations and private enterprise, will be invaluable to the ILC,” Ms McPherson said.
For further information contact: Eric Roberts on 0417 818482
Tennis legend to serve on Indigenous land board