ESPERANCE man Pastor Sonny Graham received a top honour for his contribution to the nation over the Australia Day weekend.
He was awarded the Medal of the Order of Australia for his services to Aboriginal people in WA.
Pastor Graham is a Ngadju leader who has played a major part in their Native Title determination, which was officially recognised in November last year.
Born in Balladonia on the Nullarbor where his father was a stockman, he was sent to a Norseman mission to pursue his education, which he excelled at.
After finishing tertiary studies in Melbourne and gaining three years experience in the Goulburn Valley alongside Sir Douglas Nicholls, Pastor Graham returned to Norseman where he worked as a superintendent.
He worked at Fairhaven Hostel in Esperance and eventually as an Aboriginal and Islander Education Officer and Castletown Primary School and Esperance Senior High School.
Pastor Graham said there had been a significant shift in cultural priorities during his career.
Aboriginal children were originally taught to adopt an Anglo-Celtic way of life, but were now encouraged to learn the dialect of their people and understand their culture.
He said he hoped that Australians of all backgrounds would embrace their heritage.
"I encourage people who come to Australia - Scottish people, Irish people, Maori people - to hold on to their culture," he said.
"Don't just become lost in Australia. You can still be a Maori and be an Australian too, if you want to."
Mr Graham said he welcomed the Esperance residents who became Australian citizens at the weekend and looked forward to seeing how they would contribute to the richness of the community.