Uncle Gilbert Wanganeen has been named 2025 Victorian Male Elder of the Year for NAIDOC Week.
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Living a life of authenticity and quiet achievement has led to Uncle Gilbert Wanganeen being honoured as the 2025 Victorian Male Elder of the Year for NAIDOC Week.
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Nominated by his four children, Victorian NAIDOC recognised his “unwavering service to community, justice and cultural education” over the past few decades.
“I’m honoured to have the award of the Elder of the Year for 2025,” Uncle Gilbert said.
“Sometimes, we just do what we do, and we don't even know why we're doing it, but people see it.”
Originally from South Australia, Uncle Gilbert moved to Echuca to find a happy place to live, and soon began making a name for himself playing football.
As he laid a foundation in town, he met his late wife Lee Wanganeen, who he said he dreamed about years before crossing paths with her.
“I did have a dream I was going to meet a person with big glasses. She’s going to have light skin, she’s going to be a secretary of some sort, and she’s going to be an Aboriginal woman,” Uncle Gilbert said.
“When I looked at (Lee), she did wear big glasses, she was a receptionist... she did have light skin, and she was an Aboriginal woman. I believed my destiny actually was right in front of me.”
Uncle Gilbert and Aunty Lee formed a loving and happy relationship, and consciously instilled the same affection they shared into their children.
Speaking with his siblings at the Echuca Regional Health NAIDOC morning tea on Tuesday, July 8, Uncle Gilbert’s son, Corey Wanganeen, said his parents had inspired their career choices.
Khayla Wanganeen, Corey Wanganeen and Tegan Wanganeen spoke to the crowd about their father.
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Ryan Bellingham
“All of us work in community services because of our parents,” he said.
“Dad’s always been recognised for his footy ability as well... but this time, it’s really good to see him get acknowledgement towards the work he’s done for our community.
“He’s helped a lot of people.”
Now an emotional health and wellbeing officer at the hospital, Uncle Gilbert began his current career at Njernda in social and emotional wellbeing decades before.
When his wife passed, he took nearly two years away from his role to grieve before taking the job at the hospital in 2023.
Working alongside his majority female co-workers, Uncle Gilbert said part of his role was to embed a sense of safety in other men.
“That’s helped me to be able to still care for other people. But on the other end of that, I’m caring for myself as well,” he said.
“I think my work has always been to be a carer... but I had to heal myself. I actually believe that I healed myself, and that was using forgiveness.”
The process of forgiveness has helped Uncle Gilbert to stand tall, be proud and develop a steady demeanour, which he believes others can sense.
Uncle Des Morgan — whose grandson, also named Des, received the 2025 Victoria Youth NAIDOC award — described Uncle Gilbert as a humble man at the morning tea on Tuesday.
Uncle Gilbert and Des Morgan holding their NAIDOC awards.
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The praise continued, with hospital interim chief executive Robyn Rudge and executive director of community services Cynthia Robins both calling Uncle Gilbert a “special” person.
Uncle Gilbert attributes his success and inner-strength to Aunty Lee, their children, and soon-to-be-11 grandchildren.
“There’s an aura that gets created by being a happy family,” he said.
“Everyone’s seen us as a happy family — happy to be doing what we do, happy to have the children we have, and happy to be seen.
“I think if we as strong Aboriginal people — doesn’t matter where we come from — base our life around love, that will guide us and give us purpose to give to our children.”
Receiving the award was not an achievement Uncle Gilbert strived for, but came as a natural by-product from the way he’s chosen to live.
He said that when his name was called out at the NAIDOC ceremony in Melbourne, it didn’t change him, but it helped to confirm his purpose in life.
“I’m still going to be who I am... I’ll continue to just go to work, love my children, and do what I do without looking for rewards,” Uncle Gilbert said.
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