Kate and Tick Everett have been named NT’s Local Hero winner for 2019.
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The announcement was made in Darwin tonight.
Former Essendon footballer Michael Long was named the NT’s Australian of the Year.
The NT’s Senior Australian of the Year is well known broadcaster Charlie King OAM.
The NT Young Australian of the Year is fast emerging rapper Danzal Baker.
Much loved Katherine teacher Patricia Elliott was named among the nominees for the Senior Australian of the Year award.
The Northern Territory Award recipients will become part of 32 State and Territory recipients from around the country.
These recipients will represent their state at the national Awards on January 25 in Canberra, where the four Australians of the Year will be announced.
The 2019 Northern Territory Australian of the Year is AFL champion and community leader Michael Long of Darwin.
Darwin born, Michael Long, Australian Rules Football icon is an advocate for reconciliation and fights against racism through the Michael Long Foundation supporting the ML Learning and Leadership centre and the Long Walk.
Michael played 190 games for Essendon, including two premiership wins. Awarded the Norm Smith Medal in 1993, Essendon include Michael in their 25 greatest players ever.
In 1995, following an on-field taunt, Michael made a stand which led to the AFL adopting a racial abuse code. In 2004, resolving to meet with Former Prime Minister John Howard to get Indigenous issues back on the national agenda, Michael embarked on ‘The Long Walk’, trekking 650km from his home in Melbourne all the way to Parliament House in Canberra.
Michael established the Michael Long Learning and Leadership Centre using the power of football to give young Indigenous Territorians opportunities for the future.
Today, Michael is working with the Essendon Football Club and The Long Walk Foundation to increase awareness of Indigenous culture and history. Through leadership, speaking out and hard work, Michael is tenacious in bringing real reform.
The 2019 Northern Territory Senior Australian of the Year is 67-year-old human rights campaigner Charlie King OAM of Darwin.
Gurindji man, Charlie King OAM is a veteran sports broadcaster and human rights campaigner. His expertise on and off the sporting field has made him much-loved in the Northern Territory and around Australia. In 2008, Charlie became the first Indigenous Australian to commentate at an Olympic Games.
Charlie is also a passionate campaigner against domestic violence and initiated the zero-tolerance campaign 'NO MORE' in 2006. Reaching the Indigenous and wider Australian community, the NO MORE campaign has links with more than five sporting codes and nearly a hundred teams – and is still growing.
In 2015, Charlie was awarded an Order of Australia Medal for his service to broadcast media and the Indigenous community. Charlie won a Northern Territory human-rights award in 2016 and used the moment to call for an end to family violence over Christmas. For 25 years he has also volunteered to sit with children in trouble without a parent or guardian during police interviews.
The 2019 Northern Territory Young Australian of the Year is 22 year old rapper and dancer Danzal Baker of Milingimbi.
Working across rap, dance, acting and graffiti, Danzal Baker is a multi-talented, multi-lingual, Indigenous artist. Danzal, otherwise known as Baker Boy, is the first Indigenous artist to achieve mainstream success rapping in the Yolngu Matha language.
Raised in Milingimbi and Maningrida, Danzal rapped his way to national prominence when his single Marryuna was voted into 17th place in Triple J’s Hottest 100 for 2017; a notable follow-up from his debut single Cloud 9, which won Triple J’s Unearthed competition.
Danzal is also an award winner at the National Indigenous Music Awards. He has signed a record deal with Select Music and was handpicked by English rapper Dizzee Rascal to be his Australian support act. In 2018, Danzal won the prestigious Charles Darwin University Art Award at the Northern Territory Young Achievers Awards. Touring Australia extensively, Danzal is using his talent to inspire young people in remote Indigenous communities and encourage them to embrace their culture and take up leadership positions.
The 2019 Northern Territory Local Heroes are anti-bullying advocates, Kate and Tick Everett of Katherine.
Following the tragic death of their teenage daughter, Amy ‘Dolly’ Everett in January 2018, following extensive bullying, Kate and Tick Everett founded Dolly’s Dream, to create positive change and a legacy to their daughter.
Dolly’s Dream aims to raise awareness about bullying and its potentially devastating effects on children and families. It delivers community education on bullying issues and strategies for preventing and mitigating bullying, through cultural change and victim support.
Over 250 communities have held fundraisers and events to support Dolly's Dream, with a particular focus on regional and rural Australia. Kate and Tick’s non-stop advocacy, meeting with the Prime Minister and Education and Health Ministers across the country, has resulted in governments taking childhood bullying and its devastating impacts more seriously.
Kate and Tick advocate tenaciously on a voluntary basis while continuing to muster cattle, train horses and care for their other daughter, Megan, from their home in Katherine, Northern Territory.
Australia Day Council NT Chair, Ms Jeannette Button said it was an honour to be involved in the Australian of the Year Awards.
"It is an honour to learn about the wonderful stories of our Territory nominees, of how they have encouraged others, made an enormous contribution to our communities and in many cases touched the hearts of those around them,” said Ms Button.
"Congratulations to tonight’s Award recipients, your stories remind us all of the amazing opportunities available in the Territory, our cultural diversity and collective ability to achieve great things."
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