Lalwa May and Timmy Duggan among winners at NT Indigenous Sport Awards

Success stories and up-and-coming sporting sensations were among those recognised at the inaugural NT Indigenous Sport Awards. See all the winners.

Timmy Duggan, Carol Stanislaus, Meaghan Lake, Lalwa May, Skye Lampton and Brendan Pettersen at the 2023 NT Indigenous Sport Awards. Picture: Celina Whan

Success stories, up-and-coming sensations and valued volunteers have been recognised in the first NT Indigenous Sport Awards.

Golfer Skye Lampton was named as Sportswoman of the Year after becoming the first Indigenous woman to represent the NT and compete in the Australian Amateurs tournament.

Lampton was crowned the overall Women’s champion and A-Grade gross winner for the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Championships in 2022.

Her other accolades include the NT Women’s Order of Merit and wins in the NT Country Championships, the Darwin Open, the Humpty Doo Open and Jabiru Open.

Meanwhile, marathon runner Charlie Maher took out the Indigenous Sportsman of the Year after another successful year.

Maher was recognised for his amazing efforts in the long distance discipline becoming one of only 200 Australians to compete in all six Abbott World Marathon Majors.

Golfer Skye Lampton was named the Indigenous Sportswoman of the Year at the 2023 NT Indigenous Sport Awards. Picture: Celina Whan

The junior sportswoman award went to equestrian rider Lalwa May who this year was one of only four Australians who competed in the prestigious World Clubs Tournament in France.

May, 16, was incredibly honoured to have received the accolade which also recognised her for being the first Indigenous person to represent Australia in showjumping internationally.

“I’m so extremely honoured to have won this award, this is such a big deal and I really hope it encourages other Indigenous kids to get into sports and riding,” May said.

“When I first got selected for the team I realised it was an incredible opportunity and I hope this gets other Indigenous kids into the sport because there aren’t many in equestrian and showjumping.

“And that is actually really sad because Indigenous people were the backbone of the pastoral industry and they were all incredible horse men and women, and there’s so much potential there.”

May first came into the sport when a friend from school was taking lessons, and from there she fell in love having found her thing.

Lalwa May was named the junior sportswoman of the year at the 2023 NT Indigenous Sport Awards. Picture: Celina Whan

And once the connection with the sport was found May’s grandmother immediately set about finding her a horse, which her mother broke in for her.

“I knew my mum used to ride horses when she was younger so I thought I would give it a go,” she said.

“And when I had my first lesson I just absolutely loved it, I knew I’d found my thing and once my grandmother found out she straight away wanted to get me a horse, which my mum broke in.

“I started competing through Pony Club every weekend and went away to France which just shows the opportunities that are out there.

“I’ve made friendships for life and I’ve made memories that I’ll never forget, it’s just been an incredible journey.

“The equestrian community is already quite small, so in Darwin you can be selected for national teams and go away and compete, living up here doesn’t restrict you.”

The junior sportsman accolade went to Central Australian BMX champion Cooper Drew, who captained the Australian team to victory in the trans-Tasman BMX Mighty 11s Test Team.

The Indigenous Volunteer of the Year award went to St Mary’s Football Club stalwart Carol Stanislaus who gives up her time to time keep, sit on committees and host remote players.

Hoops4Health founder Timmy Duggan was recognised with the Charlie King Indigenous Inspiring Sporting Leader award for his work in mentoring and motivating youth through basketball.