An Indigenous high school student, Lakiah Chatfield, has turned a moment of public disrespect into a powerful essay that has won her the 2025 Whitlam What Matters Award. During the Anzac Day dawn service in Melbourne, Lakiah witnessed a group of far-right individuals booing Uncle Mark Brown, an elder who was delivering the Welcome to Country. This unsettling event left her frustrated and motivated her to share her thoughts on the importance of cultural acknowledgment.
Lakiah, a Year 11 student from rural New South Wales, reflected on her personal experiences with cultural representation. “At my school, when we had to do it in the mornings at our assembly, people get annoyed and say, ‘Why do we have to listen to this?'” she explained. The jeering directed at Uncle Mark during the ceremony resonated deeply with her as she recognized the lack of respect for Indigenous voices.
In her award-winning essay, Lakiah drew inspiration from a quote by Stephen King, stating: “The place where you made your stand never mattered. Only that you were there… and still on your feet.” She elaborated on how the event at the Shire of Remembrance demonstrated a need for change in how Indigenous perspectives are valued. “This moment should have been one of respect, a time to reflect on the sacrifices made by those who came before us,” she wrote.
Lakiah’s connection to her ancestors fueled her motivation to write. “My ancestors have always been an inspiration to me,” she said. Her essay, which stood out among 6,500 entrants, underscores her desire for cultural acknowledgment to be expressed “loud, proud, and with meaning.”
After sharing her essay with a teacher, Lakiah was encouraged to enter the Whitlam writing competition, named after former Australian Prime Minister Gough Whitlam, who championed human rights. The competition invites students from years 5 to 12 across Australia to engage with significant social issues through writing.
Surprised by her win, Lakiah said, “It’s made my confidence so high. I was very shocked. I didn’t think I was going to win.” Although she had never participated in a writing competition before, she has had previous work published in a local magazine. This recognition has inspired her to pursue writing further, alongside her aspirations of becoming a youth worker.
Lakiah Chatfield’s journey exemplifies the impact of artistic expression in advocating for cultural respect and recognition. Her essay not only challenges prevailing attitudes but also highlights the resilience of Indigenous voices in the ongoing dialogue about identity and respect in Australia.
