Townsville student wins prestigious Indigenous award
30 November 2020
Tec-NQ student Lincoln Anderson has been named Exceptional Indigenous Queensland Minerals and Energy Academy (QMEA) student at a prestigious awards event in Brisbane today.
The QMEA is the education arm of the Queensland Resources Council and currently partners with 80 schools throughout the state to provide industry education and training.
The honour was presented by QRC Chief Executive Ian Macfarlane at the QMEA’s seventh annual Indigenous Awards.Lincoln is a proud Warrgamay man, currently completing Year 12 at Tec-NQ, after last year accepting a school-based apprenticeship with Townsville Engineering Industries.
“As I grew older, I knew I was heading to the resources sector to expand my knowledge and experience to ensure the small communities out west where my family are from always had access to my craft,” said Lincoln.
“I like to remind my family and cousins that they are very clever and can achieve whatever they want to do and as long as they are willing to put in the hard work, they can realize their dreams.”
Mr Macfarlane said Lincoln was an impressive young man with a number of awardsunder his belt already including Tec-NQ Engineering Student of the Year and Indigenous Student of the Year.
“Outside of work, Lincoln volunteers for his community, helping clean up after the 2019 Townsville floods and assisting the local Deadly Choices team, so he is a very well-rounded student who thoroughly deserves this award,” he said.
Today’s online presentation featured a keynote address by Fiona Jose, Chief Executive Officer at Cape York Partnership, music by Troy Cassar-Daley and an address by Dr Jackie Huggins AM FAHA, a Bidjara/Birri Gubba Juru woman and staunch advocate for Indigenous people.
Indigenous people currently make up 4 percent of the combined QRC member company workforce, which is on par with their representation in Queensland’s population.
“The resources sector can be proud of its record of Indigenous employment and we will continue to build on this number,” Mr Macfarlane said.
“The good news is with young people like Lincoln coming through, we can be sure more Indigenous people will follow in his impressive footsteps.”
The QMEA is a partnership between the QRC and the Queensland Government under its Gateway to Industry Schools program.
QRC thanks major sponsors Rio Tinto and Evolutinon Mining, as well as Thiess, Glencore, Anglo American, Hastings Deering, Shell-QGC, Australian Pacific LNG, Bravus, Ventia, Mine Super and QCoal.
Media enquiries: Caroline Morrissey 0417 770 893
