Clyde Fenton Primary School student Darci Place was recognised for her compassion, integrity and kindness at a presentation ceremony for the Fred Hollows Humanity Award at Parliament House in Darwin yesterday.
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A national initiative of The Fred Hollows Foundation, the Humanity Award acknowledges Year Six students who follow in Fred’s footsteps by demonstrating humanitarian values towards others.
The award recognised 25 students from the Northern Territory this year.
Chief Minister Michael Gunner and Founding Director of The Fred Hollows Foundation, Gabi Hollows, presented students with their certificates before announcing the 2017 Northern Territory Junior Ambassador to The Foundation, Abbey Hughes from The Essington School Darwin.
“Today we recognise 25 students from 20 Government and non-Government schools, right across the Territory – from here in Darwin, to Alice Springs, to Ramingining and Robinson River,” Chief Minister Michael Gunner said.
“While Year Six students across the Territory can’t go out and cure eye disease - not just yet anyway - they can live the ethos of Fred Hollows - kindness, compassion, integrity and friendship.
“They have been nominated because they are making their communities better places to live, and that’s something pretty special.”
The Fred Hollows Humanity Award began in the ACT in 2012 and expanded into the Northern Territory this year, becoming a truly national initiative with 420 children nominated across the country.
“The endless ideas and energy of young people continues to inspire me and it was great to meet some of the students who are making a positive difference in their communities,” Gabi Hollows said.
“Fred would have been incredibly proud of the contribution these students are making to society and of The Foundation for recognising and encouraging them to help others, no matter how big or small their actions.
“To all of this year’s Humanity Award recipients and to the 2017 Northern Territory Junior Ambassador to The Foundation, I offer my warmest congratulations and my heartfelt thanks.”
Darci was nominated by Assistant Principal, Donna Capes, for being a kind and caring student who looks out for others and stands up to bullying.
“Even when she sometimes faces challenges in her own life, Darci displays care and compassion,” Ms Capes said.
“She is a role model for younger students, and always helps others to stand up to bullying. She shows kindness and respect to all members of the school community.”
The Humanity Award recognised students from 20 primary schools in the Northern Territory including The
Essington School Darwin, whose nominee, Abbey Hughes, went on to be named Northern Territory Junior Ambassador to The Fred Hollows Foundation.
As a Girl Guide for the past two years, Abbey has volunteered many hours towards fundraising and community activities to support causes such as Clean Up Australia Day and ANZAC Day. Abbey also volunteers with the local
RSPCA and helps the Darwin Animal Shelter with fundraising barbecues and events.
As a Junior Ambassador to The Fred Hollows Foundation, Abbey will be able to extend her humanity by allocating $5000, donated by the award’s charity partner Specsavers, to one of The Foundation’s programs to end avoidable blindness.
After giving it much thought, Abbey chose to support The Foundation’s cataract surgery program in Kenya because of the huge number of poor and disadvantaged people whose lives will be transformed by having their sight restored and because women receive more than half of all treatments.
The 2017 Fred Hollows Humanity Award Northern Territory recipient from Katherine:
Darci Place, Clyde Fenton Primary School (Darci shows kindness and respect to all members of the school community and displays care and compassion, even when she sometimes faces challenges in her own life).
2017 Fred Hollows Humanity Award Northern Territory recipients from across the Northern Territory:
Abbey Hughes, The Essington School Darwin
Aliya Conway-Jones, Milkwood Steiner School
Allysha Tregea, Araluen Christian College
Byron Rioli, Ludmilla Primary School
Caitlin Riley, Marrara Christian College
Deontae Greenoff, Wagaman Primary School
Duane Hart, Gray Primary School
Frank Chelappadan, Living Waters Lutheran School
Joshua Yin Foo, Milkwood Steiner School
Karina Lee, Stuart Park Primary
Keely Patrick, Good Shepherd Lutheran College
Lachlan MacLean, Araluen Christian College
Lachlan Mears, Good Shepherd Lutheran College
Lauren Earl, Nakara Primary School
Makaila Smith, Rosebery Primary School
Rebecca Garawirrtja, Ramingining School
Ryan Patricks, Girraween Primary School
Shenielle Jacobs, Gray Primary School
Shikira Gunatjpal, Ramingining School
Sidhak Dhingra, Our Lady of the Sacred Heart Catholic College
Taura Worby, Karama School
Tyler Dyson, Good Shepherd Lutheran College