Who was Les Kennedy?

The man, father, friend, rascal, rebel and reporter.

Les Kennedy was never in the officer’s mess of journalism - and nor did he want to be. He loved nothing better than excelling on the road as a leader of other "shoe leather" journalists.

Proud of his indigenous heritage, Les' awareness of his past and the pride he took in it were the twin chambers of a big, generous heart.

It was his fabled generosity that fuelled a selfless devotion to a long list of protégés. When he could easily have focused on his own path to even greater success, he was preoccupied with blazing trails for others in an often ruthless industry of giant egos too eager to diminish colleagues in the blind pursuit of self-interest.

The awards named in his honour have been utterly faithful to the spirit of Les Kennedy’s passion for solid camaraderie - and his total rejection of a mercenary cohort obsessed with a win-at-all costs stampede to the top.

Even in death Les floats above them all - a decade after his premature departure from liver cancer at the age of 53.

Les literally reported until the end,  dictating one last story to friends perched by the side of his hospital bed at Royal Prince Alfred Hospital. It was yet another exclusive story from one of his many trusted police contacts.

The foundation, awards and scholarship for indigenous journalists named in his honour are a formidable enough legacy, exceeded only by the memories of those lucky enough to have known and admire the man, father, friend, rascal, rebel and reporter.

Since 2012 our gala presentation ceremony and the black-tie ball have been staged on or around the anniversary of Les Kennedy’s passing in August 2011.