The 1987 Human Rights Medal was presented to Ms Rose Colless OAM, for her outstanding work for the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people in Far North Queensland.
Ms Rose Colless is an Aboriginal women was born in 1928 and left school in Grade 7. Active in housing and other activities to support her people, Ms Colless has worked intensively for over fifteen years in drug and alcohol rehabilitation for Aborigines and Torres Strait Islanders. For over eleven years she has been the Manager of the Aborigines and Islander Alcohol Relief Service Limited in Cairns. She has also worked for the Department of Social Security, the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Legal Service and the Queensland Department of Aboriginal Advancement.
Rose Colless runs a meal service in the parks of Cairns and caters for local homeless aborigines. Her OAM was awarded in 1984.
The Commission established the Human Rights Medal in 1987 to be presented annually in recognition of outstanding personal endeavour in the cause of human rights. The choice of recipient, after open nomination, is made by an independent panel. The Medal is designed and made by Melbourne based Michael Meszaros, an international award-winning medal designer and sculptor.
Human rights medal Winner