Archie Roach named 2020 Victorian Australian of the Year

Singer-songwriter and First Nations activist Archie Roach was named 2020 Victorian Australian of the Year.

The announcement was made at Government House by Governor Linda Dessau on Wednesday.

Roach, who was earlier awarded the Member of the Order of Australia, was last night acknowledged for his resilience and achievements.

From Stolen Generation victim at two-years-old, his successes include a series of inspiring albums and establishing Ruby’s Foundation to improve opportunities for young First Nations people through art and culture.

His signature tune ‘Took The Children Away’ won him a Human Rights Achievement Award.

“We live in the most blessed country on this earth,” Roach said during his acceptance speech. “We are the most blessed people on this earth, because of that.

“We all come from a sacred place, the beginning, and we can all journey back as one people and be the authors of a new story for this country.”

The 63-year-old quipped that he thought fellow nominee AFL champion Neale Daniher would take the win.

Roach releases his memoirs Tell Me Why and accompanying album on November 1, and undertakes a series of In Conversation theatre dates.

The album contains three brand new recordings, 11 classic Archie songs reimagined, two previously unreleased songs, and two songs that influenced him in his early years.

Listen to ‘Took The Children Away’ by Archie Roach