Advocacy for others, entrepreneurship, and balancing a number of projects were common themes among the front runners. 

Brogan Hanrahan

NT Government Small Business Achievement Award

Twenty-five-year-old Brogan Hanrahan is a self-taught entrepreneur. Seeing a gap in the Katherine market, she built a coffee culture and a space where the Katherine community can meet and engage. She founded The Black Russian Caravan Bar after years of research on the idea of introducing specialty coffee in Katherine. Following its success, she established Maiden’s Lane which caters to both locals and tourists. Brogan has provided 20 jobs to local workers, some of whom are now qualified baristas. Despite working as much as 16 hours a day, Brogan is happy to be achieving her goal.

Isabella Leonhardt

Glencore McArthur River Mining Regional and Rural Initiative Award

Eighteen-year-old Isabella Leonhardt has helped break the stigma of mental illnesses in rural communities. Her initiative, an auction and dinner event called ‘Dreaming Under the Stars,’ brought the regional and rural community together and successfully raised $172,000 for the Dolly’s Dream Foundation. A member of the Katherine Regional Youth Group, she helped organise ‘Blue’, an art Exhibition, which allowed artists to express themselves under a mental health theme. The young achiever balances school and volunteer work and received the 2012 Australia Day Student Citizen Award. In 2018, she received the Australian Defence Force Long Tan Award. 

Annabel Curtain

NT Government Small Business Achievement Award

Leaving behind a successful urban planning career, the 29-year-old is committed to showing a positive light on rural life. She has settled in the Territory and built Katherine’s Outback Experience (KOE) with her husband, Tom. KOE is an award-winning tourist attraction that shows outback life through demonstrations, live music and humorous bush tales. They also collaborate with local and national agribusinesses to promote their products, create local jobs, and build community pride, showcasing Katherine.

Annabel dedicates her time and business experience and is currently a member of the Tourism Top End Region and Katherine Economic Development Committee. 

Wesley Campbell

NT Government Young Aboriginal Educator Award

Wesley Campbell, who lives in Yarralin advocates for education as a tool for positive change. The 28-year-old was a bus driver for Yarralin School before he started working in its Remote School Attendance Strategy Program. Mr Campbell ensures that children who need breakfast are at school in time and effectively manages to get students to school unless they are ill. He follows up those who are absent by speaking with parents, encouraging them to see the value of education. Participating in intercommunity events like the Kalkarindji for Freedom Day he recently earned a Certificate III in Community Night Patrol. 

Roley James

Colemans Contracting and Earthmoving Agriculture Award

The 26 year-old has combined his passion for the agricultural industry, love for aviation, and keen interest in business management. He held a management role in the family business when he was 16 and at 20, started a business supplying high quality products at wholesale prices to the agricultural industry. He was the first to bring ultralight aviation to the NT cattle industry, reducing the cost of management and mustering livestock substantially. Mr James holds a private ilot’s license and a Diploma of Agribusiness Management. He was the first station assistant manager in the NT to build his own plane.

The finalists will be presented and winners announced at an Awards Gala Presentation Dinner in Darwin on Friday, April 5. 

One of the 12 category winners will be chosen as the 2019 Northern Territory Young Achiever of the Year. 

The Northern Territory Young Achiever Awards were created in 1994, to acknowledging, encouraging and  promote the positive achievements of young Territorians up to and including 29 years of age.

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