Indigenous West Australia student invited to Obama inauguration

[Swagman]

Indigenous WA student invited to Obama inauguration
Broadcast: 16/01/2009
Reporter: Hamish Fitzsimmons

Included among the official guests at US President-elect Barack Obama's oath of office next week will be a young Aboriginal man from WA, who has been invited to the inauguration after his extraordinary leadership qualities were recognised by the US congress.

Transcript
MARK BANNERMAN, PRESENTER: When US President-elect Barack Obama takes the oath of office next week, people around the globe will watch the ceremony with great expectations.

For anyone attending the event it will no doubt by be a moment they'll remember for the rest of their lives.

Among the official guests there will be a young Aboriginal man from Western Australia who has been invited to the inauguration after his extraordinary leadership qualities were recognised by the US Congress. Law student Linden Brownley says Barack Obama's election is an inspiration and has him thinking about a life in politics of his own.

Hamish Fitzsimmons reports.

(Sound of Brownley family singing)

LINDEN BROWNLEY, LAW STUDENT: Obama's a pretty inspirational person, I guess, to a lot of people considering where he has come from. I guess that just goes to say that no matter where you come from or whatever your background, anything's possible.

HAMISH FITZSIMMONS: This family gospel choir is about to lose one member, temporarily, when he flies to Washington DC to attend the inauguration of the US President-elect.

BARACK OBAMA, US PRESIDENT-ELECT: Yes, we can.

CROWD: Yes, we can.

BARACK OBAMA: America, we have come so far.

HAMISH FITZSIMMONS: Like Barack Obama, Linden Brownley has organised community groups for the disadvantaged and like his role model, a future in politics beckons once the second-year law student finishes his studies.

LINDEN BROWNLEY: I believe that I have something to offer this country, Australia. I believe that as a young Aboriginal man, studying law and doing the things that I've been doing, I believe that I am a pretty good role model to others.

DR IAN LAMBERT, FORMER HEADMASTER: He believes quite strongly, and so do I, that he'll find a place in politics in the future, that he has an enormous intellectual and empathetic basis upon which to serve others.

http://www.abc.net.au/7.30/content/2008/s2468144.htm