Community Mourns Passing Of Deadly Awards Founder

Community tributes are flowing heavily for Mr Jones, the founder of the Deadly Awards and its parent organisation Deadly Vibe, who passed away on Saturday morning in his hometown of Goulburn, NSW, aged 47.

Mr Jones was born in 1966, on traditional Ngunnawal and Gundungurra lands at Goulburn, growing up there with his parents, grandmother and three sisters, before taking on a journalism cadetship at the Goulburn Post and completing a bachelor’s degree in communications at the University of Canberra in 1989.

Four years later, in 1993, Mr Jones would found Deadly Vibe, with its then-iconoclastic mission statement to “support all Aboriginal people and Torres Strait Islander people in reaching their full potential by providing positive imagery, identifiable role models and quality media to improve community and quality of life”.

“What a blessing, when 21 years ago Gavin and I sat in a coffee shop and talked about how great it would be to have a national radio program, our own AFIs, and a magazine, and look what he did with his wisdom, passion and love for all our mob,” said Rhoda Roberts, a close friend of Mr Jones’ and long-time collaborator on projects such as weekly radio show Deadly Sounds and the Deadly Awards.

“So many seedlings have been produced across the industry because of this one man and his passion. He really was a pioneer, and I thank you deadly brother. Rest, then dance well with our mob because you will always be in our hearts and are one of greatest shining stars.”

The Deadly Vibe project grew into a range of empowering and unique products that put Indigenous culture and issues front and centre – Deadly Sounds in 1993, followed by the Deadly Vibe magazine in 1995, the first such publication of its kind and which celebrated its 200th issue last year.

“I would like everyone to know that Gavin Jones was a colossus in achieving positive outcomes for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people for more than 20 years across Australia,” renowned sportsman and Indigenous elder Claude Williams said.

“He had many difficult hurdles to overcome as an Aboriginal man in Australia and he always managed to produce a successful result for his people. For one who gained so much success and recognition, he was a man who was unpretentious and developed absolute humility. Indigenous Australia has lost a genuine icon and the giant footprints and enormous legacy he leaves should be celebrated and commemorated forever.”

Following Deadly Vibe’s success, Mr Jones launched InVibe – a Deadly Vibe insert targeted at incarcerated Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander adults and youth with positive and educational messages about mental and sexual health, substance abuse, and Vibe’s mission of promoting pride and self-worth – and the Vibe 3on3 travelling youth event, designed to further reiterate Vibe’s mission and improve health awareness among Indigenous youth.

“Gavin Jones is a true hero of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples,” said Dr Tom Calma AO, a health and human rights campaigner who has also previously served as Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Social Justice Commissioner, and Race Discrimination Commissioner.

“He was selfless and he dedicated his life to celebrating our achievements and inspiring our youth in particular to develop the resilience they need to face their future. RIP, Gav.”

Last, but by no means least, are the Deadly Awards themselves, which first appeared in 1994 to recognise the efforts of Deadly Sounds broadcasting. By 2013, the ceremony’s 19th year, the awards had grown into one of the most eagerly awaited events on the Indigenous calendar.

Sadly, Vibe Australia made it known in a statement released on Monday that, since June, the company has been aware that its funding was being redirected to “front-line” services, effectively crippling the Deadly family of events for the foreseeable future – a development that had reportedly left Mr Jones heartbroken.

“The Australian community, not only the Aboriginal and Torres Strait community, has lost a genuine leader of people,” said Luke Carroll, the long-time host of the Deadlys and one-time Deadly Vibe role model.

“Gavin Jones was a mentor, brother, father figure, and great confidant, not only to me, but to so many within the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander entertainment, sporting, and grassroots community. His ambition and drive in promoting our people on the biggest and brightest stage possible was his passion, and he did this without any thought of personal gain.

“He was the most giving and generous person I have ever known and his legacy and the ramifications of his death will be felt for many generations to come. There is a massive void that is left from his absence, and we must never, ever forget the contribution he has made. I will love him and continue to love him. We all miss you, Gav, and we’ll see you in the Dreamtime.”

theMusic.com.au would like to offer its condolences to Mr Jones’ family, friends, the team at Vibe Australia, and anyone whose life has been touched by his pioneering work.

Further tributes for Mr Jones: