In memoriam: Tributes to the beloved community members the Territory lost in 2020
PART 1: It was a tough year for the Territory as we farewelled towering civic leaders, pioneering businesspeople, sporting icons, and inspirational figures — much loved by family and friends — in 2020. The NT News pays tribute to the many beloved community members the NT lost last year
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IT was a tough year for the Territory as we farewelled towering civic leaders, pioneering businesspeople, sporting icons, and inspirational figures, much loved by family and friends in 2020.
Here, in Part 1 or our 3-part tribute, the NT News remembers 30 beloved community members the Territory lost last year.
Check back here on ntnews.com.au on Wednesday and Thursday for Parts 2 and 3 of our special series of tributes.
In memoriam: We remember those who lost their lives on Territory roads in 2020
IAN TUXWORTH
January 21
Former NT Chief Minister Ian Tuxworth died in Perth aged 77, after a distinguished career in politics.
He was a member of the first NT ministry since self government, was the Territory’s second chief minister and held the seat of Barkly for 16 years.
He served as chief minister from October 17, 1984 to May 10, 1986, when he resigned from the Country Liberal Party and formed the now defunct NT Nationals party.
Current NT politicians paid tribute to him as a pioneering politician who helped shape the wonderful Territory lifestyle.
Mr Tuxworth was farewelled at a state funeral at the St Mary’s Star of the Sea Cathedral in Darwin.
EVELIN KWOK
February 14
PALMERSTON mother of two and aged care centre nurse Evelin Kwok, 34, was driving to work when she was killed in a horror crash on Valentine’s Day.
She died at the scene when her Hyundai sedan collided head-on with a dark grey Toyota Corolla which police believe was travelling on the wrong side of the road.
More than 100 people attended her funeral to say their final goodbyes, where she was remembered as a loving wife and mother, faithful friend and a committed nurse who had never stopped working towards her dreams.
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FRANK LAM
March 20
Popular restaurateur and Territory icon Frank Lam passed away after battling terminal cancer for more than a year – a year in which he bravely endured treatment while continuing to work in his beloved Magic Wok Restaurant.
Together with his wife Julie, Mr Lam was one of Darwin’s longest-term restaurateurs, having run establishments in the city for more than 48 years.
The pair opened Tai Hung Tol Chinese Restaurant on Parap Road in 1973, growing it from a small takeaway outlet to a large and award-winning Asian fine dining institution.
They went on to open Genghis Khan Mongolian Restaurant and then the highly successful Magic Wok.
MICHAEL BOWDEN
April 11
THE Darwin and wider Australian footballing community mourned the death of 1969 Richmond premiership player and Territory sporting legend Michael Bowden OAM, aged 73, after he lost his battle with motor neurone disease.
Bowden, a ruck rover, played 59 senior games for the Tigers between 1967 and 1971 and gathered 19 disposals, including a game-high nine handballs, in the 1969 Grand Final.
He also captained the Tigers to the 1971 reserves flag in what was his final game for the club.
Off the field, Bowden devoted his life to improving conditions for Indigenous people in the NT.
He also founded O’Loughlin Catholic College’s ‘The Big Bike Ride’ in 2009 — a 122km journey from Mandorah all the way back to O’Loughlin in Karama, which raises money for breast cancer, multiple sclerosis and many other critical causes.
LILLY WALSH
May 30
Teenager Lilly Walsh was killed in a single vehicle accident on a private property near Tipperary Station while heading back home from a fishing trip with four friends.
The 14-year-old was a Year 9 student at MacKillop Catholic College.
Her heartbroken family said she was a true Territory girl who loved being out bush, riding horses and always had a smile on her face.
“Lilly had such an amazing spirit and she was a bush girl at heart,” her mother Jolene Walsh said.
ALEXANDER ‘ROOCH’ AURRICHIO
June 8
American Alexander “Rooch” Aurrichio, 30, a ruckman for NTFL club Waratah who had a promising future in AFL, was riding his bike along Gunn Point Road in Howard Springs about 7pm when a Nissan Patrol hit him from behind. He died at the scene.
His loss was mourned by family, friends and a wide range of sporting clubs and players, including US NBA player Tobias Harris and former Waratah Football Club player Abbey Holmes.
Originally from New York, Aurrichio moved from America to Australia in late 2014 to chase his dream of playing in the AFL.
He went on to represent numerous state league clubs in the VFL, SANFL, NEAFL and finally the NTFL.
In December, Waratah named its new junior Academy after him.
JOHN ‘JAK’ AH KIT
July 12
Titan of Territory politics John “Jak” Ah Kit – the NT’s first Aboriginal cabinet minister – was a fierce leader, advocate for the rights of First Nations people and beloved man who lit up rooms with his cheeky humour to the very end.
He passed away at Royal Darwin Hospital aged 69, after a period of ill-health.
Mr Ah Kit was farewelled by hundreds of family and friends and numerous politicians at a state funeral at TIO Stadium.
Speaking at the service, Jawoyn leader Lisa Mumbin said Mr Ah Kit had truly been a “groundbreaking leader” for Aboriginal Territorians.
“No one could stop him, and no one could stand in his way,” she said.
DAYMON NESS
Reported missing on October 20; presumed dead
Victorian tourist Daymon Ness went missing on October 20 after he went for a walk alone on one of the walking trails in the popular Nitmiluk National Park, near Katherine, and never returned.
NT Police, NT Emergency Services and Parks and Wildlife personnel conducted a ground and aerial search for the 30-year-old over six days, but failed to locate him.
His body has never been found and he is presumed dead.
Mr Ness’ parents William and Elise Ness flew from Melbourne to Darwin and spent two weeks in quarantine at Howard Springs to assist with the investigation into his disappearance.
Several weeks later, Jawoyn Elders passed on Mr Ness’ spirit in a ceremony in Katherine w attended by his parents.
ELEFTHERIA ‘RITA’ SKLIROS
November 14
A prominent Darwin Greek family lost its matriarch when Eleftheria “Rita” Skliros, 75, died in a three-car crash on the Stuart Highway in Livingstone while driving her Toyota Kluger.
In a sad twist, she had left home earlier that day to visit her husband Nicholas’ grave at Thorak Cemetry.
The Skliros family is well-known in the Darwin region for running a large mango farm.
Speaking the day after the crash, Ms Skliros’ son Leo said the family hadn’t slept as a result of the devastating news.
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FRONTMAN OF NT BAND THE LONELY BOYS
(CANNOT BE NAMED FOR CULTURAL REASONS)
December 9
The frontman of Ngukurr band Lonely Boys died in a single vehicle crash near Bulman about 9.30pm.
The 36-year-old, who cannot be named for cultural reasons, was a passenger and one of four people in the vehicle.
Lonely Boys became one of the most popular bands across the NT’s remote communities after the release of their debut album in 2007 and touring of the Top End over the next decade.
They also rose to national and global attention and were chosen to perform as the support act for Queens of the Stone Age at their Darwin show in 2017.
The frontman was the second Lonely Boys band member to die in a vehicle-related accident in the space of a few years.
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WEDNESDAY: Part 2 of our special series of tributes to those the NT lost in 2020
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