2023 Tennant Creek senior citizen of the year Deborah Cain ordered to appear in Alice Springs court

The woman – once crowned the Barkly capital’s senior citizen of the year – has been ordered to come to Alice Springs next month, for what could be the end of a long battle.

Alice Springs Local Court. Picture: Gera Kazakov

The former Tennant Creek senior citizen of the year has been ordered to come to Alice Springs in May, for what could potentially be the end of her long court battle.

Deborah Cain, 62, has spent nearly two years fighting charges of obtaining a benefit by deception, forgery, and knowingly uttering a forged document.

She was arrested in the Tennant Creek post office May 30, 2023, with her matter once again before the Alice Springs Local Court on Thursday.

She has not entered a plea to any of her charges, but on Thursday her defence lawyer Simon Lapinski hinted the end of her matter could be near – if the prosecution accepts his alterations to the statement of facts on the matter.

Deborah Cain.

He sought the matter be listed for a guilty plea at the next hearing, and said if “the crown forms the view that’s not appropriate, that doesn’t change my position to the proposed resolution”.

He said the amount Ms Cain is alleged to have defrauded has been amended, as “the Crown has foregone the original $990,000”.

Ms Cain is accused of submitting falsified working with children checks and national police clearances to obtain six-figure paying gigs, the statement of facts in the case allege.

In 2023, she was awarded senior citizen of the year at the Barkly Regional Council Australia Day celebrations, and was also previously employed by the Julalikari Council Aboriginal Corporation.

The corporation has confirmed to this masthead she is no longer employed by them.

At her latest mention, Mr Lapinski said a character witness may take the stand during her proposed guilty plea.

Her charges could change, he said, stating her four counts of obtaining a benefit by deception “may be rolled up into one”.

Ms Cain is currently out on bail and did not appear in court on Thursday.

However, Judge Carly Ingles – who presided over the matter – ordered she appear at her next court date.

Her bail was continued and her matter will be back before the Alice Springs Local Court on May 29.

Originally published as 2023 Tennant Creek senior citizen of the year Deborah Cain ordered to appear in Alice Springs court