While last nights' TV Week Logie Awards demonstrated the Australian media landscape is still largely dominated by white actors, there was a host of Indigenous and multicultural talents on display too. This years' Hall of Fame winner Noni Hazelhurst put in perfectly in her speech when she said, "... things are clearly changing." Judging from the wave of diversity at the Palladium Ballroom, Crown Towers in Melbourne, she was spot on.
Not only did Miranda Tapsell and Maddy Madden look breathtakingly posing for press photos, but a host of talent (both on-screen and behind-the-scenes) flew the black, yellow and red flag at the 'night of nights' for Australian television.
Deborah Mailman
Acting legend, Deborah Mailman picked up a shiny trophy for Most Outstanding Actress for her role as Lorraine in Redfern Now: Promise Me (ABC) and she told the audience, "Redfern Now has been about Integrity and empowerment of Indigenous storytelling and has been such a wonderful experience for me to be a part of these stories, which reflect a deeper, more complicated character that pushed beyond the expected reality."
Most Outstanding Actress winner Deborah Mailman with her Logie Award Source: AAP
Rarriwuy Hick
Rarriwuy began her career in entertainment as a dancer and choreographer, performing at high profile national events like the Danish Royal Visit and the Sydney Dreaming Festival. Last night, the Yolngu woman was acknowledged for her acting abilities for her role as Robyn Davis and was nominated for Most Outstanding Supporting Actress.
She tweeted, "Congratulations Celia Ireland on winning the Most Outstanding Supporting Actress" as the Wentworth (Foxtel) actress took the win.
Deborah Mailman with Redfern Now: Promise Me co-star, Rarriwuy Hick who was nominated for Most Outstanding Supporting Actress (Image: Twitter / @RarriwuyHick) Source: Twitter
Miranda Tapsell
The Love Child actress who famously demanded, "put more beautiful people of colour on TV and connect viewers in ways which transcend race and unite u,s" at last years awards, took the stage again in 2016. This time, it was to present the award for 'Most Outstanding Supporting Actress'.
Tapsell joined former Neighbours star Craig McLachlan, who bizarrely rambled on about his wins 20 years ago, confusing audiences whether the self-involved act was scripted and intentional.
It did not look so for Miranda who finally interrupted him and said, "... Um, it's not your moment Craig."
Miranda Tapsell from Love Child looking great in Carla Zampatti (Image: AAP)
Trevor Jamieson
Trevor is well versed on Australia's screens, having acted in big productions like the film, Rabbit Proof Fence and ABC TV's Around the Block. He accepted the award for Most Outstanding Miniseries for The Secret River (ABC) and stood by producer, Stephen Luby who said,
"The Secret River is a big ambitious powerful story, that tells something true about us as Australians. Not just the past in which is was set, but about us today
... This was a wonderful collaboration between white Australian people and Indigenous Australian people to try to tell a story which is a difficult one to tell." 
The Secret River cast and crew, actor Trevor Jamieson and producer Stephen Luby (Image: AAP) Source: AAP
Ready for This
An enormous achievement for Indigenous representation in our media landscape, children's program Ready for This (ABC) took out Most Outstanding Children's Program, with it's cast lead by five Aboriginal young people. Producer of Black Fella Films, Darren Dale said, "I just want to say how important diversity is on Australian screens and thank you to the ABC for be bold and audacious and putting five Indigenous kids on screen as the stars of this show. The hearts and minds of Australians have changed but teaching kids not to be bigots, so having five black kids on a kids show is just fantastic."
Leading actress of the program, Maddy Madden joined the mic and added, "I just want to say that there needs to be more shows like this in Australia so young Indigenous children can feel that their voices are being heard. So they feel like they can be represented in mainstream television and that our stories are being told."
Madeleine Madden and Aaron McGrath from Ready For This win the Most Outstanding Children's Program award (Image: AAP Image/Joe Castro)
NITV - Marngrook Footy Show, NITV News & League Nation
Our very on NITV talent took the red carpet and the hard work from football fanatics, Marngrook Footy Show got them a nomination for Best Sports Program for the second year in a row. The Logie went to The NRL Footy Show (Channel 9) to which Marngrook graciously tweeted,
"It wasn't our night tonight, but THANK YOU to our incredible Marngrook fans. We'll be back next year!"
Leila Gurruwiwi, Grant Handsen and Shelly Ware nominated for Best Sports Program, Marngrook Footy Show (Image: Twitter) Source: Twitter
(L-R) Justin Hodges and Hannah Hollis from League Nation Live, Tanya Denning-Orman NITV's Channel Manager and glittering Natalie Ahmat from NITV News Source: NITV
'Everyone looks so good, it's going to be a good night. I'm so excited to be here all the NITV guys look incredible, so it's gonna be good.'
Another interesting Logies speech came from international writer, comic and actor Tim Minchin. Minchin was awarded Best Supporting Actor for his role as 1800s racist and violently-charged Irishman in The Secret River. He accepted the award via video (as he is living abroad) and advocated Indigenous rights and racial respect.
Paying credit to his Indigenous co-stars, he elaborated on the difficulty of filming the history of invaded Australia saying, "The story of Secret River was often very upsetting and difficult to tell. And if it was upsetting for me, I can only imagine what it was like for Trevor Jamieson and Angus Pillakui and the rest of the Indigenous cast. I think it's incredibly important that we keep telling the story of the true history of Australia. It's extremely complicated and painful ... But I do know that 'let's get over it and move on' doesn't cut it and never has."
A big congratulations to all the black winners, nominees and representatives at this years' TV Week Logie Awards 2016.
Who were you excited to see on the red carpet?
