From its humble, fun-loving beginnings, the Golden Pineapple Awards have gone from strength-to-strength in a matter of years.

How else can you explain some of the high-profile nominees for the 2023 honours, which include Midnight Oil, Craig Hamilton, ALDI, Melissa Histon and Michelle Faithfull?

Presented by registered Australian charity Hunter Diversity & Inclusion Collective (HDIC), the latest edition will take place at NEX – Newcastle Exhibition & Convention Centre on Friday 30 June from 6.30pm.

And, an entertaining evening is guaranteed.

“We’re looking forward to hosting it again,” HDIC chairperson Bill Armstrong said.

“It’s a red-carpet event, with at least a dozen different performers taking the stage.

“It is as much a celebration of diversity in the arts community in the Hunter as it is an awards ceremony.

“When we were planning the inaugural night, I was also organising a cabaret show to celebrate a significant birthday milestone of mine.

“But, both were postponed due to something called COVID.

“So, when we had a window of opportunity to finally do it, we put the two things together as one event.

“There was a lot of comedy around that… we told people the theatre had double-booked the shows.

“Now, it’s evolved into a theatrical event.

“Plus, it has a unique vibe to it, which people love.

“And, in 2023, we’ve attracted a few sponsors for the first time, so it’s nice to have some support.

“While the purpose of the charity is to enable more equity and inclusion in the workplace throughout the region, the awards are a chance to recognise outstanding achievements and employers who support that message.

“So, the Golden Pineapple covers the greater Hunter, all 14 Local Government Areas (LGAs).”

Last year, winners included ABC Love on the Spectrum, Connor Wink, Sue French, Early Links, Making Waves Foundation, Ngarrama Awabukal and Leigh Creighton.

Best of all, they were endorsed by a public vote, not judges.

“In the first three-to-four days of online voting, in 2023, we received more than 2022 overall,” Mr Armstrong told the Newcastle Weekly.

“Last year was big, however it seems to have taken traction in the mainstream community now.

“With nominees such as well-known local journalist Craig Hamilton, iconic Aussie rock band Midnight Oil and respected organisation Got Your Back Sista, it’s probably captured a bigger audience this time around, too.

“For example, our social media following in 2022 was about 2,500.

“In 2023, it’s doubled to 5,000, so the interest is there.

“When you go back to the start of our charity, Hunter Diversity & Inclusion Collective, three or four years ago, we wanted to get a conversation going about inclusion.

“And, that’s definitely happened over the past 12-to-18 months, especially in Newcastle.”

Tickets for the event, including red-carpet, dinner, awards and cabaret show, are available at https://lnkd.in/g-eBC2ZD

MEANING OF THE GOLDEN PINEAPPLE

Since the 1700s in a diverse range of cultures and cultural festivals, the pineapple has symbolised a message that “everyone is welcome”.

In fact, during these events, people will place a pineapple at the entrance of their house or premises to share a message that everyone, no matter their background, is welcome to enter and engage in their hospitality.

In many cultures pineapples are given as a gift of friendship.

In recent times, service industries display the pineapple as a symbol of welcoming.

Pineapples can symbolise related advocacy as well: during the dark days of segregation in the southern states of the USA hospitality venues, those that did not share a segregationist view of the world, placed pineapples at their entrances or shop windows to send a message that “everyone is welcome in this establishment” irrespective of their skin colour.

And, so it is at the HDIC where it embraces and celebrates our shared humanity.

“Everyone is welcome at the HDIC,” Bill Armstrong said.

“We are many peoples but we are one community.

“Our differences make us stronger. Our shared humanity unites us all.

“We seek to remove the historic and systemic barriers to equity and inclusion for all.”

The annual Golden Pineapple Awards celebrate this.

Each year at the Hunter Awards for Outstanding Achievement in Diversity, Equity and Inclusion, the recipients (those individuals and organisations who enable diversity, equity and inclusion through their works and endeavours) receive a Gold Pineapple adornment in recognition that in their communities and workplaces they seek to ensure that “everyone is welcome”.

Enabling equity and inclusion for all people in the Hunter region is the HDIC’s aspiration and endeavour.

And, it believes that awarding Golden Pineapples to those who share its purpose is befitting.

Hence the name: The Golden Pineapple Awards.

GOLDEN PINEAPPLE AWARDS 

2023 nominees

PERSON OF THE YEAR 

• Paul Johns 
• Michelle Faithfull
• Maree Jenner 
• Lee-Anne McDougall
• Melissa Histon
• Maurie Voisey-Barlin

LEADERSHIP AWARD 

• Stephen Innes 
• Nicci Richman 
• Geoff Lockock
• Leah Flanagan

OUTSTANDING DEI EVENT 

• Newcastle Pride 2022 Pride Festival
• Equal Futures Project: Grace Tame Keynote Speech 
• Hunter Multicultural Communities – Multicultural Fiesta
• Cessnock Library – People Library
• Hunter DeafBlind Concert – 2022 DeafBlind Ball
• Prelude Australia – Women in Leadership

OUTSTANDING DEI MEDIA 

• Rob King video – ‘King of my Castle’
• Joseph Popov – ‘Ask Joseph’ Podcast 
• Midnight Oil video – ‘Uluru Statement from the Heart’ (Read by First Nations Collaborators) 
• On Purpose Podcast – Muslim Women Australia 
• Tyler Waters – Gender Discovery film

OUTSTANDING TEAM 

• Three Rings Aerial & Circus Art
• Hunter Primary Care Shared Health Appointments Team
• Hunter Circles
• Enlarge Living
• Sunny Steps Psychology & Supervision
• Got Your Back Sista
• Hume Housing – Housing Options Team

EMPLOYER OF CHOICE 

• Hunter Primary Care 
• ALDI 
• Clear Sky Australia
• Prelude Australia

COMMUNITY INITIATIVE AWARD 

• Mayfield Mosque – Christmas Celebration
• Craig Hamilton – Mental Health Awareness 
• Michelle Boundy – Be Kind, various community events
• Early Links – Fun Factory program

• The Newcastle Weekly is the proud media partner of the Golden Pineapple Awards

For more community stories:

• Knights legend helping our future stars ‘Grow’
• Hunter trio named in Women Changing The World Awards
• Hunter discovery could extend life expectancy of children with brain cancer

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