Archie Roach Posthumously Recognized In Australia Day Honors – Billboard

Archie Roach, the legendary Indigenous Australian artist whose track “Took the Children Away” was acknowledged with a Human Rights Medal, has been posthumously awarded within the Australia Day honors.

Roach is appointed as a Companion of the Order of Australia (AC) for his service to the performing arts and to Indigenous rights and reconciliation, officers introduced on Jan. 26 — Australia’s nationwide day.

The Gunditjmara (Kirrae Whurrong/Djab Wurrung), Bundjalung senior elder, songman, prolific storyteller and First Nations champion contributed a few of this nation’s best works, throughout a 30-year-plus profession, spanning eight albums.

Few songs can contact fairly like Roach’s 1991 track “Took The Children Away,” a heartbreaking story of the enforced separation of First Nations kids from their households.

The track acquired an worldwide Human Rights Achievement Award, the primary time that the honour had been bestowed on a songwriter.

Roach, or Uncle Arch as he was lovingly identified, was celebrated on quite a few events throughout his lifetime. He was made a Member of The Order of Australia (AM) (in 2015), and acquired the Ted Albert Award for Outstanding Services to Australian Music (in 2017).

The songsmith was inducted into the ARIA Hall of Fame in 2020, marking the thirtieth anniversary of the discharge of Charcoal Lane, his debut full size album which carried “Took The Children Away.” The track is now preserved within the National Film And Sound Archive Of Australia.

Throughout his life, he devoted himself to supporting others. In 2014, he based The Archie Roach Foundation which established to “nurture meaningful and potentially life changing opportunities” for younger First Nation artists.

When he died July 30, 2022 after a protracted sickness, on the age of 66, prime minister Anthony Albanese led tributes.

Though Roach has left us, his music continues to resonate. At the 2022 ARIA Awards, Roach posthumously received finest impartial launch for “One Song,” the ultimate track he wrote.

“One Song” is considered one of 20 contenders for the coveted track of the 12 months on the 2023 APRA Music Awards, set for April 27 at Sydney’s ICC.

See the entire Australia Day Honours List right here.