Indigenous leader Andrea Mason named NT Australian of the Year

AN indigenous leader who has made it her mission to improve the lives of women and children throughout a 350,000sq km stretch of Central Australia has been named the Northern Territory Australian of the Year

The 2016 Northern Territory Australian of the Year was awarded to Indigenous leader Andrea Mason. PICTURE: Justin Kennedy

AN indigenous leader who has made it her mission to improve the lives of women and children throughout a 350,000sq km stretch of Central Australia has been named the Northern Territory Australian of the Year.

Andrea Mason was awarded the top gong at the Darwin Convention Centre in a prestigious ceremony last night.

As the chief executive of the Ngaanyatjarra, Pitjantjatjara and Yankunytjatjara Women’s Council, Ms Mason brings together Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal thinking to create employment, support health and wellbeing, and tackle domestic violence.

With deep respect for local language, law and culture, Ms Mason is leading innovative social enterprises, such as the Tjanpi Desert Weavers, building micro businesses, teaching valuable employment skills and melding traditional healers with the best of western medicine.

Ms Mason said she was humbled by the win. “It is life changing,” she said. “It’s acknowledgment of what I’ve given to the Australian community and that’s humbling and it’s exciting.”

Ms Mason also made history when she became the first indigenous Australian woman to head a political party when Family First chose her as leader in 2004.

The 2017 Northern Territory Senior Australian of the Year is community champion, Sister Anne Gardiner AM, 85.

As a 22-year-old member of the Daughters of Our Lady of the Sacred Heart, Sister Gardiner was asked to move to Bathurst Island to live among the Tiwi people.

In the 62 years since, Sister Gardiner has devoted her life to enriching community, enhancing opportunity and supporting the Tiwi culture. An advocate of peace, love and the traditional Tiwi way of life, she has worked tirelessly to document and preserve the Tiwi language.

The 2017 Northern Territory Young Australian of the Year is healthy living advocate Bridie Duggan, 24.

Shocked by the suicide of a close friend in Katherine, Ms Duggan decided to take action.

Setting herself an extreme challenge, she travelled around Darwin each day for a month, and raised $27,000 for the Livin Foundation.

The 2017 Northern Territory Local Hero is food van founder, Tejinder pal Singh.

For the past four years, he has dedicated the last Sunday of each month to feeding poor and needy locals of northern Darwin. After a gruelling 12-hour shift driving a taxi, Tejinder spends five hours cooking up a storm in his kitchen, preparing 80kg of curry and rice as a free lunch.

The NT Award winners will join recipients from other states and territories at the national awards on January 25, 2017 in Canberra.

NT Australian of The Year finalists David McMicken, Timothy Newth, Tony Burns, Andrea Mason and Tom E. Lewis. PICTURE: Justin Kennedy

THE WINNERS

NT Australian of the Year - Andrea Mason. “(Andrea) is determined to help children and young people realise the same aspirations as their urban counterparts.”

Senior Australian of the Year - Sister Anne Gardiner AM.

“Sr Anne has devoted her life to enriching community, enhancing opportunity and supporting the Tiwi culture.

Sr Anne has worked tirelessly to document and preserve the Tiwi language for future generations.”

Young Australian of the Year - Bridie Duggan. “Determined to raise awareness and funds to support the one in four Australians who will suffer from mental illness during their lives, Bridie wants others to know that speaking up and out is not weak.”

Local Hero - Tejinder pal Singh.

“For the past 4 years, Tejinder has dedicated the last Sunday of each month to feeding poor and needy locals. After a 12-hour taxi shift, he prepares 80kg of vegetarian curry and rice, serving a free lunch.”