NT’s first Aboriginal cabinet minister John Ah Kit to be farewelled at a state funeral

The Territory Government will hold a state funeral next week for former Labor cabinet minister John ‘Jak’ Ah Kit, who died last Sunday.

Then Sports Minister John Ah Kit gets a feel of the newly installed turf at Marrara Oval in 2002.

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THE Territory Government will hold a state funeral next week for former Labor cabinet minister John “Jak” Ah Kit, who died last Sunday.

The former member for Arnhem, who was the first Aboriginal person to hold a cabinet ministry in the NT, will be farewelled at a public ceremony at Marrara Oval at 3pm next Wednesday.

Mr Ah Kit held office for a decade between 1995 and 2005 and served as minister in the portfolios of community development, housing, local government, sport and recreation and regional development, as well as assisting the Chief Minister on Indigenous affairs.

In announcing the state funeral on Friday, Chief Minister Michael Gunner paid tribute on behalf of all Territorians to “one of our finest”.

“Jak was a brilliant and fearless fighter for Aboriginal Territorians, and an important man in the lives of so many,” he said.

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“To Gail, Jonathan, Darren, Ngaree and their families — from all Territorians I offer our deepest condolences. He has left a great legacy and his loss is deeply felt.”

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