Roxanne McDonald Receives Lifetime Achievement Award

Image: Roxanne and Tim Fairfax

Roxanne McDonald received a well-deserved standing ovation when she was awarded the Alan Edwards Lifetime Achievement Award 2020 from the Actors’ & Entertainers’ Benevolent Fund, at QPAC’s Lyrebird Restaurant yesterday (July 27, 2021). Surrounded by family, friends and actors she had worked with, the beloved actor was overcome with joy when the Fund’s new Patron, Tim Fairfax AC, presented her with the illustrious plaque.

It was a time of celebration for one of the most adored actors and storytellers, a descendent from the Mandandanji & Darambal Tribes of Central Queensland.

She can now add it to her special commendation Matilda Award, which she received in 2000, and her ACPA Aboriginal & Torres Strait Islander Career Achievement Award in 2012.

Image: Roxanne and Family

Roxanne McDonald’s first stage performance was as part of the ensemble in Shoestring Theatre Company’s 1984 pro/am production of the musical The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas. She followed with a role in the play You Came To My Country and you didn’t turn black for the Queensland Museum in 1990, directed by Sue Rider.

She has acted in over 50 main stage plays in her career with companies like Grin and Tonic, Kite Theatre, Kooemba Jdarra Indigenous Performing Arts, Griffin Theatre, Belvoir Street Theatre, La Boite Theatre Company and Queensland Theatre. Her movie credits include My Grace and Australia Day, and her television performances include Harrow, Mabo and The End.     

Image: Jenny Gould and Roxanne

Because of Covid, the morning tea had a reduced capacity this year, but that didn’t dampen the goodwill and waves of warmth in the air for the recipient. Those present included, John Kotzas AM, Chief Executive, QPAC, Colleen Wall, Elder in Residence, QPAC, Nadine McDonald-Dowd, Executive Producer – First Nations, QPAC, the AEBF Management Committee, Michael Balk JP (President), Lynne Rainbow AM (Vice-President), Margaret McLennan, Michael Mandalios, June Craw OAM, Oliver Samson, Michelle Rae, Jackie Maxwell and Matthew Burton, plus ambassador Naomi Price, associate Kate Gould, and previous award winners Leo Wockner, Kaye Stevenson, Penny Everingham, Jim Vile, Sue Rider, Robby Nason and David Walters.

Peter Pinne