New Member Appointed to National Indigenous Council

Minister for Indigenous Affairs, Mal Brough, today announced the appointment of Mr Dean Widders to the National Indigenous Council (NIC).

Mr Widders is currently playing his fifth year with the Parramatta Eels in the National Rugby League competition and has previously played two years with the Sydney Roosters. He was also a member of the 2006 New South Wales Country Representative Team.

"Mr Widders has held several significant representative roles connected with his sports career, including as Ambassador and Director for the National Aboriginal Sporting Corporation of Australia. He was also an Australia Day Ambassador for Parramatta in 2004," Mr Brough said.

"Leadership from recognised sporting identities is extremely beneficial in Indigenous communities where young people embrace sport and sporting personalities are held in high regard.

"Mr Widders, along with other respected sporting identities, can play an important role in delivering positive messages to communities such as attending and doing well at school and living positive healthy lifestyles.

"Mr Widders is passionate about his people, something he has demonstrated many times in the past, and I look forward to working with him in his new role as a member of the National Indigenous Council," Mr Brough said.