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Isaacs a fierce advocate for people

Respected: Robert Isaacs. Picture: Michael O'Brien/The West Australian

Robert Isaacs, a respected Noongar elder who has spent the past 50 years breaking down cultural barriers and improving the lives of disadvantaged people, was named West Australian of the Year last night.

He also won the Aboriginal award category.

A member of the Stolen Generation who was taken from his family at six months old, Mr Isaacs lived in institutions until he was 17.

Despite such a shaky start to life, he has been a fierce advocate for Aboriginal people, helping to improve their health, housing, employment and education.

Earlier this year, in his role as chairman of the Australia Day WA council, Mr Isaacs urged Aboriginal Australians to focus on the good things Australia had done as a nation, instead of past wrongs.

In a speech that attracted some criticism, he said Australia Day was not the occasion for further apologies, but a chance to share diversity and acknowledge the country's traditional owners.

"Some might say that it is not a day that Aboriginal people should celebrate because it represents 'invasion day' but this is an opportunity for us all to forget about our differences and focus on all the good things we have done as a nation of people," he said.

He recently condemned comments by Prime Minister Tony Abbott that Aboriginal people living in remote areas were making "lifestyle choices" and criticised WA Police Commissioner Karl O'Callaghan for supporting the withdrawal of funding from some remote Aboriginal communities because of concerns about sexual abuse of children.

Mr Isaacs has achieved a number of firsts in his lifetime, including being the first Aboriginal to be elected to local government as councillor and deputy mayor of the City of Gosnells. He is also known for playing a key role in setting up Australia's first Aboriginal school at Clontarf Aboriginal College.

A former chairman and administrator of the defunct Aboriginal Housing Board, he has set up programs to help Aboriginal people own their own homes.

Mr Isaacs has also received an Order of Australia medal recognising his work to improve relations between Aboriginal people and the justice system and an honorary doctorate from Warnborough College, Canterbury.