Why Clare Martin fell in love with the Territory

WHEN Clare Martin stepped off a plane in Darwin in 1983, she intended to stay for six months — but six months quickly spiralled into 36 years

Clare Martin being honoured with an Order of Australia, in recognition of her service to the people and Legislative Assembly of the NT and work as a community advocate.

WHEN Clare Martin stepped off a plane in Darwin in 1983, she intended to stay for six months.

Ms Martin had been offered a job too good to refuse, hosting her own morning show with ABC Darwin.

But six months quickly spiralled into 36 years, as Ms Martin fell in love with the Territory’s quirky personality and the opportunities it had to offer.

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“I love the Territory and I love Darwin,” she said.

“I’m 67 next week and I’ve got lots more energy and lots more that I can contribute.”

Former Chief Minister Clare Martin in 2001 (PIC: MICHAEL MARSCHALL)

In 2001, Ms Martin was elected the first Labor Party Chief Minister — and first female Chief Minister of the NT.

Ms Martin’s election to the top spot ended 27 years of Country Liberal Party rule in the NT — and she was re-elected in 2005, winning a remarkable 19 out of 25 seats.

Though she’d been a political journalist for many years, Ms Martin said she “fell into” a career in Territory politics.

“I was having lunch with a group of friends in 1994 — and one of them who was a very strong Labor member, and she said ‘we need more women in politics’,” she said. “And I said ‘Oh all right, I’ll think about it’.”

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Today, Ms Martin is honoured with an AO, in recognition of her service to the people and Legislative Assembly of the NT and work as a community advocate.

Politics aside, Ms Martin and partner David Alderman raised two kids in the NT. Their son Jake, 32, is now an architect in Melbourne and daughter Chloe, 30, is an analyst with the NT treasury.

Ms Martin is an executive member with Team NT, chair at the Museum and Art Gallery of the NT, Browns Mart Arts director, vice-chair of NT Cricket and a chair with NT Natural Resource Management.