Grahame Webb, Jenny Blokland among Territorians honoured on Australia Day
A list of Territorians who have represented and served their communities have been recognised in this year’s Australia Day Honours List. Read about their exploits.
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The incredible work of Territorians serving their communities and the country has been recognised at this year’s Australia Day Honours List, with recipients in fields from catholic education, to cricket, to croc conservation.
Officer of the Order of Australia (AO)
Jenny Blokland AO
The Honourable Justice Jenny May Blokland was recognised for her distinguished service to the judiciary, to the law, to professional associations, and to the community.
Justice Blokland has served as judge at the Supreme Court of the Northern Territory since 2010.
She is president of the Australian Institute of Judicial Administration, former director of the Winston Churchill Memorial Trust, and former Legal Policy Director at the Northern Territory Department of Justice.
Justice Blokland said her position enabled her to “learn more” of how justice affects Territorians.
“The most inspiring part of my job is the opportunity to learn more about how the delivery of justice affects people who live in the regional and remote parts of the Northern
Territory,” Justice Blokland said.
“It’s important to help Australians understand the complexity of the issues that the Northern Territory faces – the Northern Territory is unique and unlike anywhere else in the world.”
Since being admitted to the Bar in 1981, Justice Blokland has served on dozens of community and professional groups, contributing to the development of law and justice at both the Territory and national levels.
Justice Blokland is a longtime patron of the NT Women Lawyers’ Association, and has worked in human rights law including as a pro bono lawyer for Cambodian refugees in Darwin.
Hugh Heggie AO PSM
His Honour Professor the Honourable Hugh Crosby Heggie PSM was recognised for distinguished service to medicine and medical research organisations, and as Administrator of the Northern Territory.
Before his appointment as NT Administrator in January last year, Professor Heggie was the Chief Health Officer, guiding the Territory through years of the Covid-19 pandemic.
Professor Heggie worked as a doctor in remote communities across the NT after moving north 22 years ago, part of a four decade career as a research pharmacologist and rural GP.
He was recognised with both a Public Service Medal and a Humanitarian Overseas Medal in 2021, and said it was being “surrounded by such fantastic people” that got him to where he was today.
“It is an absolutely incredible honour to be awarded this meritorious award,” Professor Heggie said.
“I have to thank the teams I’ve worked with, health care workers, the public service – and Aboriginal people I have to thank in particular because they’ve guided me all the way about cultural sensitivity and connection.
“In many ways it’s the opportunity of the Territory that has led to the privilege of being nominated.”
While his professional achievements are many, Professor Heggie said being a father was “the biggest thing in his life”.
It was a lifetime guided by principles, he said: “I do my best, I am passionate, I do take responsibility and I have a lot of resilience.”
Judith Clair Kelly AO
The Honourable Justice Judith Clair Kelly has been recognised for her distinguished service to judiciary, to the law, to professional associations and to women.
Justice Kelly has served at the Supreme Court since 2009 and is a past president of the Australian Judicial Officers Associations, between 2018 and 2020.
She long held a role in the association as a former vice president, a role she also held at the Northern Territory Bar Association between 2008 and 2009.
She has been a fellow at the Australian Academy of Law since 2008 and has been a council member of the Judicial Council of Diversity and Inclusion since 2021.
Justice Kelly said she was proud and honoured by the nomination, but she was more pleased by the reference to women, an area of law she had spent plenty of effort working on.
“I am pleased by the reference to women in the award given my efforts to publicise the plight of victims of domestic violence,” she said.
Grahame Webb AO
The Top End’s resident croc expert Grahame Webb has been recognised for distinguished service to environmental conservation, and to wildlife preservation, particularly crocodiles.
The founder of Crocodylus Park and long-time reptile researcher has made a huge contribution to the industry and continues to have an impact on crocodile management in the NT.
Since the early 1970’s he has shared his expertise on a number of boards and institutions, including chairing the Crocodile Specialist Group and Australia New Zealand Sustainable Use Specialist Group, as well as being an adjunct professor at CDU.
Mr Webb said he was “deeply honoured” to be honoured with Order of Australia, but it wasn’t why he did what he did.
“Some people whatever they do they do for accolades and pats on the back, I’ve never really been like that, I’m more interested in the outcome,” he said.
And one of the greatest outcomes he’s been a part of is the change in NT’s crocodile management program.
“It’s been an interesting ride and I’m glad that some of the outcomes which is the successful management program has been recognised,” he said.
“The overall thing is what we’ve achieved in the NT is we’ve brought crocs back and we’ve introduced a management program that has allowed people to adapt and live with crocs – it’s a wonderful achievement.”
Member of the Order (AM)
Bettina Danganbarr AM
A tireless campaigner against domestic violence, Bettina Danganbarr says her award is owed to others who helped her bring positive change.
“There are so many people to thank – they know who they are – who have helped make this happen,” she said.
“I couldn’t have done it without them.”
In 2007, Ms Danganbarr, 47, became an Aboriginal Community Police Officer for the East Arnhem community and has since offered her home as a safe haven for women and children suffering from domestic violence.
“It was a long journey and it wasn’t until 2012 that I realised we didn’t have a woman’s shelter in our community,” she said.
“We really needed one and it took a decade, but we finally delivered (a shelter) two years ago which is up and running.”
Ms Danganbarr said her advice for young people was to priorities their education.
“I would say (to young people) get an education and work hard for your people and do it with a good heart,” she said.
“As long as you can read and write, it will get you wherever you need to.”
Medal of the Order (OAM)
Gregory O’Mullane OAM
Gregory O’Mullane has been recognised for his service to catholic education and school rugby union and awarded a Medal of the Order of Australia.
Mr O’Mullane served as the Catholic Education NT deputy director from 2006 before ascending to director in 2018.
He has also held several other positions through Catholic Education, including as a commission member, principal of O’Loughlin Catholic College, and principal of St John’s Catholic College.
Mr O’Mullane was also the NT Schools Rugby Union president from 1986-2018 and a former coach and manager.
He was awarded the Australian Sports Medal in 2000.
Jayne Lloyd OAM
CatholicCare NT director Jayne Lloyd has been recognised for her service to the community through social welfare over more than two decades.
The president of the NT Council of Social Services and lifelong Territorian said while “you definitely don’t go into social work or the social service sector to get a pat on the back” she was pleased to be acknowledged.
“I’ve worked my whole career in this field so it is an honour to have that recognised and I think it’s important to see women in the social services sector recognised because we’re truly the backbone of the social services sector,” she said.
“When I started here we had about 10 people in the organisation, we now have over 300 people across the whole of the NT, we’re in 16 locations and we do make a really significant impact and difference in the community.”
Ms Lloyd is also a current board member of NT Shelter and a former ACOSS representative and chairwoman of Anti-Poverty Week.
Ralph Wiese OAM
Sporting legend Ralph Wiese has been recognised for his service to education and cricket spanning almost 60 years with a Medal of the Order of Australia.
Mr Wiese said the highlight of his career had been his contribution to the inauguration of the NT Cricket Association after playing with the Waratah Cricket Club.
“That was something that had taken a number of years to get sorted out,” he said.
Mr Wiese now holds lifetime memberships with several sporting clubs, including the Waratah Cricket, Football, and Sports Clubs, the NT Cricket Association, and AFL NT.
He said the award boiled down to the “terrific people” he had worked with over the years and the fantastic support of his wife and family.
“I was involved in the Department of Education for 40-something years until I retired, starting as a teacher in Darwin High School and finishing up within the Department as the deputy chief executive,” he said.
“It was exciting, and after that, I was also appointed by the government as the Chair of the NT Board of Studies from 2013-2022.”
Steven Kidd OAM
St Philip’s College head of arts Steven Kidd’s passion for theatre and education has been recognised.
Mr Kidd said he was honoured to receive a Medal of the Order of Australia.
Mr Kidd said he has worked as a teacher for the past 25 years and was an actor and director for about 20 years before that.
“I love to pass on anything to do with theatre, any skills involved in putting on theatrical productions,” he said.
Mr Kidd attributed his award to his wife Christina, his love for mentoring the Territory’s up-and-coming theatrical artists, and his performance history.
“No production works without a team, and I always work as part of a team.”
Bilawara Lee OAM
Author, advocate and Larrakia Elder Bilawara Lee has been awarded the Order of Australia in the General Division for her service to the NT’s Indigenous community.
Ms Lee, 73, has committed her working life to advocating for Aboriginal health and education and said she was “honoured” to be recognised.
“I was surprised but greatly, greatly honoured and I’ll continue to do my work as an advocate for Aboriginal people in health and education,” she said.
“I’ve been advocating for more than 50 years and I’m really proud of the progress I’ve seen (the community) make – most of us work not for reward or money, but give to the community.”
Recovering from a medical operation, Ms Lee said she would continue to “keep working”.
“I’ve had an operation which has slowed me down a little bit but I’ll keep working.”
And what is Ms Lee’s advice for younger people?
“Don’t work for the money – find something you love doing, go for it and don’t let people say you can’t do it,” she said.
“Have a respectful attitude and don’t always assume your answer is the only one.”
Klaus Friedrich Helms OAM
At 17-years-old Klaus Helms arrived on the Nhulunbuy airstrip, was handed a bag of bauxite, a tent and told “you’re camping there”.
For decades Mr Helms has used these three tools - the land’s natural resources, Yolngu hospitality and innovation and some cheeky bush ingenuity - to advocate for this remote Indigenous community.
As the Gumatj Corporation chief executive Mr Helms has aided the North East Arnhem region to become an economic power of the outback.
Mr Helms helped harness the bauxite-reliant lands to allow the Yolngu people to plan for a post-mining sustainable economy, with new business ventures spanning the space industry, tourism, education, surveying and mine rehabilitation services.
In 2014 Mr Helms was selected as the NT Senior Australian of the Year, but a decade later he shows no signs of slowing.
In less than eight years the Rio Tinto Gove mine is expected to close, with Mr Helms expected to play a large part in diversifying the economy of the region.
“We’re up to the challenges, tell us what they are, tell us how we can help and we’ll do it,” he said at the last year’s Garma festival.
Member of the Order
Elizabeth Morris AM
She sits in judgement over some Territorian’s worst moments, has diligently brought the chaos of the courts into order, and solved one of Australia’s biggest miscarriages of justice.
Elizabeth Morris has been awarded the Member of the Order after 14 years of serving in the local courts, including the last nine years as the deputy and then Chief Judge.
Prior to her appointment to the Local Court, Ms Morris served as executive director of racing, gaming and licensing, Department of Justice deputy chief executive and as Deputy Coroner.
Ms Morris was at the centre of the Territory’s most famous outback mysteries, as the fourth coroner to investigate the death of baby Azaria.
As coroner Ms Morris brought the painful saga to a close in 2012 by declaring that a dingo was responsible for the nine-week-old’s death 32 years earlier.
Lindy Chamberlain-Creighton, who spent three years in prison accused of her daughter’s murder, later quipped: “it would have to be a woman to put it right”.
Ms Morris said she was honoured and grateful to be recognised in the Australia Day Honours List, saying her time in the legal profession “has been a privilege”.
“My commitment to community service, both within the law and in other areas, such as with NT Scouts, has always been a personal passion and a fulfilling journey, and I am
touched that it has been acknowledged,” she said.
Meritorious Awards
Stephen Ronald Sewell AFSM
Deputy chief fire officer Stephen Sewell has been recognised for 13 years of service with the NT Fire and Rescue Service with an Australian Fire Service Medal.
During his time with the NTFRS, Mr Sewell has been deployed to NSW as a strike team leader during bushfires in that state in 2019-20 and served as planning officer for the Territory Emergency Operations Centre during the Covid-19 pandemic.
In May last year, Mr Sewell was also part of a team of firefighters who deployed to Alberta, Canada, spending 28 days on the front line.
He said it was “a bit surreal” to be recognised for his efforts.
“A huge fire had broken out and was heading towards the town of Greenview so it was quite trying conditions,” he said.
“We tried to pull the fire up for three days before it hit the town and it was just a combined co-ordinated effort to try to prevent any loss of property but more so, loss of life.
“A lot of people in need, it was long hours, tiring days from 7 o’clock in the morning until 9-10 o’clock at night every day.”
Luccio Franco Cercarelli PSM
City of Palmerston chief executive officer Luccio Cercarelli has been recognised for his outstanding service to local government in the NT with a Public Service Medal.
As CEO, Mr Cercarelli successfully lobbied for substantial grant funding from the NT and Australian governments for Palmerston’s new SWELL aquatic facility, building a new community hall, installing energy efficient LED streetlights with smart controls throughout the municipality and delivering upgrades to the town library.
He also led lobbying of the NT government to increase Palmerston’s municipal boundary to include what was previously unincorporated land, increasing commercial and industrial opportunities for the city while supporting a population growth of an additional 20,000 people.
Mr Cercarelli said it was a “great honour and privilege” to receive the award.
“It’s really unexpected but I’m really humbled by it,” he said.
“I’ve been fortunate working with a great council and a great organisation and team and been able to really deliver some great outcomes for our community.
“We’re really trying to set the community on a footing for a future of being sustainable and building a lifestyle.”
Commander Hege Ronning-burns APM
NT Police Commander Hege Ronning-Burns has been recognised for her three decades of service to the Territory community with an Australian Police Medal.
She has worked in remote communities across the NT since joining in 1993, and earned promotion to superintendent in 2017, after proving her leadership roles across specialist areas.
Commander Ronning-Burns was the Territory duty superintendent during Covid-19, and her efforts were invaluable in coordinating response efforts and keeping the community safe.
She is regarded as someone with exceptional decision-making skills and an immense ability to work under pressure.
She is the current commander of the Northern Territory Police, Fire and Emergency Services College, where she oversees police recruit training and provides guidance and mentorship.
The dedicated professional helps shape recruits into confident and capable members of the NTPF, and makes sure they’re well-prepared for the challenges they will face.
Commander Ronning-Burns works tirelessly to build relationships in the community, earning trust and respect.
She said earning the accolade was “incredibly humbling”.
“It is very humbling and I am very proud of serving the Northern Territory police,” she said.
“I am here because of the police officers who came before me and I am here because of the police officers I work with now.
“I also have to thank my family, my husband who supported me through the last 30 years of my career.”
Sergeant Isobel Anne Cummins APM
Sergeant Isobel Cummins has been awarded the Australian Police Medal for her 27 years of service with the Northern Territory Police Force.
Sergeant Cummins began her career as a general duties officer in Alice Springs in 1997, before transferring to the Southern Investigations Division where she spent several years before being promoted to detective sergeant and joining the Major Crimes Squad.
In 2010 Sergeant Cummins was awarded a Commissioner’s Unit Commendation for her work following the Air North crash at Darwin Airport which claimed the lives of two men.
This was followed by the Patricia Ann Brennan Award in 2013 for her contribution to women in the Northern Territory Police, Fire and Emergency Services.
Since 2015 Sergeant Cummins has also been the deputy commander of the Northern Territory Disaster Victim Identification (DVI) team and she is also a member of the NTPF Negotiation Unit as a police negotiator.
Sergeant Cummins said she was proud of the award but it wasn’t hers alone.
“I am very honoured and it is very humbling,” she said. “It’s a testament to a lot of other members who have helped me to get here and certainly isn’t an individual recognition.
“Its recognition for all the other teams and colleagues I have worked with over the years and also to the community.”
Sergeant Cummins’ peers regard her as a homicide investigations expert and are inspired by her commitment to both the community and her work.
She is known for her exceptional investigative skills and commitment to solving cases.
Christopher John Cox PSM
Executive director of justice services Chris Cox has been recognised for his “outstanding service through his positive, dedicated leadership, and excellent service to the public and internal clients”.
Mr Cox’s Public Service Medal comes after 35 years working in the Territory justice system, including overseeing ongoing reforms to youth justice following the 2016 Royal Commission.
In June 2022, Mr Cox was also appointed as the registrar-general of the NT and the registrar of births, deaths and marriages.
“Since being appointed as the executive director, Mr Cox consistently demonstrates outstanding service through his leadership, efficient process, improved productivity, and innovation in program and project delivery,” the Honours and Awards Secretariat wrote.
“Mr Cox is tirelessly striving for practical and effective outcomes for the NT public service by consistently demonstrating a commitment to upholding the principles of justice, fairness and efficiency with the court system, while fostering a culture of professionalism, integrity and respect.”
Mr Cox said it was a “significant honour” to be nominated for such an award and thanked
his wife and family for being supportive during his career.
“I have worked with some amazing dedicated court staff and judicial officers over the last 35
years and have enjoyed every moment of it,” he said.
“Court administration is a specialised area and the NT plays a lead role
nationally in ensuring that court services across the country are carried out in an efficient
and timely manner.”
Kylie Killalea ASM
Kylie Killalea has been recognised for her years of contribution to ambulance services in the Northern Territory.
Moving over from Western Australia in 2007, Ms Killalea has moved around the ranks of St John NT from student paramedic to now area manager of Katherine.
In her years of service, Ms Killalea has been described as a role model who always brings enthusiasm to her role.
She was awarded the 2023 Council of Ambulance Authorities Women in Ambulance Award.
Ms Killalea said she was humbled to join the list of “very distinguished” members of the St John team who have also received an Ambulance Service Medal.
“It’s more about the team work,” she said.
“There’s no way I’d be doing any of this without the very strong team I have behind me.”
In her current role of area manager in Katherine, which she came to via a secondment in Nhulunbuy, Ms Killalea excels, according to the boss.
“She goes over and above for her team members and maintains constant support even after hours, where she will frequently respond in support of the frontline crews,” St John
NT chief executive Andrew Tombs said.
When asked what is planned next for the keen health provider, Ms Killalea had an instant response.
“I couldn’t possibly see any other career path in my future,” she said.
“I’m here and they’re not getting rid of me.”
Warrant Officer Class Two Tommy Munyarrun
Warrant Officer Class Tommy Munyarrun has been awarded the Order of Australian in the Military Division for meritorious service in cross cultural leadership within the Regional Force Surveillance Group.
Mr Munyarrun’s citation reads:
“Warrant Officer Class Two Munyarryun’s service as an Indigenous leader within the North West Mobile Force (NORFORCE) over a period of thirty years has contributed to Army’s development as a culturally competent organisation.
“His commitment to supporting and mentoring junior Indigenous soldiers has enabled generations of Indigenous Australians to serve their country while concurrently enhancing the effectiveness of Army’s operational posture in the north of Australia’.
Warrant Officer Melinda Jane Skinner
Warrant Officer Melinda Jane Skinner has been awarded the Conspicuous Service Cross for outstanding achievement in movements coordination for the ADF as a Movements Warrant Officer in the Royal Australian Air Force.
Ms Skinner’s citation reads:
“Through conspicuous skill, leadership and judgement, Warrant Officer Skinner effectively safeguarded individual safety and Defence reputation by managing Royal Australian Air Force Base Darwin Air Terminal as a first port of entry for the successful international repatriation of thousands of Australian citizens during the global pandemic.
“Such accomplishments have advanced the reputation of Defence and have established precedent and corporate knowledge for complex Air Movement operations in adverse conditions”.
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