Previous Senior Australian Archievers NT

2007

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Pat Anderson
Pat Anderson has a national and international reputation as a powerful advocate for the disadvantaged, with a particular focus on Indigenous health. She chairs the Cooperative Research Centre for Aboriginal Health, an exciting collaboration of twelve organisations representing researchers, policy makers, and service delivery agencies working to improve Indigenous health. Pat has spoken before the UN Working Group on Indigenous People and has extensive experience in all aspects of Indigenous health, including community development, advocacy, policy formulation, and research ethics. She is a prolific writer who has published many essays, papers, and articles. Until recently, Pat held the position of Executive Officer of the Aboriginal Medical Services Alliance Northern Territory, which is the peak body of the Aboriginal community health organisations in the Northern Territory, and is currently a board member of Beyondblue, the bipartisan initiative of federal, state, and territory governments aimed at raising community awareness about depression.

2006

Kathleen Mills

Kathleen Mills
Kathleen Mills is a part of a large, achieving family who are immensely proud of their inheritance as First Australians. Kath is revered not only as the mother of the Mills Sisters, but also as a custodian of the 'the old way of life'in Darwin. She keeps musical traditions alive and, as a contemporary songwriter, has the rare gift of telling a story precisely and simply. Her song Arafura Pearl is listed officially as an icon by the NT Heritage Society.

Kath has been tireless in working towards better relationships between Indigenous and other Australians. She is always available to present a balanced,mature point of view and is held in high esteem in all sections of the NT community. Kath is a member of countless committees, yet she is always able to find time to do good deeds, to encourage others, and to promote a better society.

2005

Tony Milhinhos

Tony Milhinhos
Tony Milhinhos is a philanthropist and business man, whose outstanding generosity over many years has made a significant difference in the Australian community. His history of giving was made possible from the success he sculpted from humble beginnings as a migrant from Portugal who arrived in Australia in September 1967.

When he arrived in Darwin in 1968 Tony worked on various construction projects and by the time he married in 1972 already had a small business. When Cyclone Tracy arrived Tony, his wife and another couple had a supermarket, which was very badly damaged, and the town was devastated. The other couple wanted out so the Milhinhos family took it over and rebuilt the business, which they later sold. By 1977 the family decided to start a mixed business of supermarket and hardware and that business became an instant success. The family?s first large contribution to those less fortunate began with the Ash Wednesday fire victims. The staff working at the store worked for nothing one Sunday and all the store?s takings were donated. Since then many big donations have gone to help others in need, such as farmers in drought affected areas, St. Johns Ambulance, Sommerville Community Services, Dragons Abreast, R.S.P.C.A. and Autism N.T.

Separate from these donations Tony has always been willing to assist local schools, sporting associations and charities with prizes and donations, as well as providing assistance in various ways for individuals needing help. His most recent donation was for the Tsunami Victims Appeal by Care Australia. Tony set up his own appeal at his shopping centre where he pledged dollar for dollar all monies donated up to $100,000.00. It was a successful appeal in that the public donations total was reached in only 19 days, and cheques for $200,000.00 was sent to Care Australia by 17/01/05. Tony is an honorary member of the Guide Dogs Association of SA & NT (Inc) and each year matches dollar for dollar the donations made in his shopping centre for Guide Dogs.

Tony received the James D Richardson Honour Award given to him by the Lions Club of Nightcliff in recognition of service to the community. Coming from a modest background Tony has worked hard and assisted the development of commerce in a remote region. He has done well for himself and his family, but equally has returned the favour to the Australian community through his generous support for charity. He insists that his success was only made possible with the help of his family.

2004

Bern Kilgariff OAM AM

Bern Kilgariff OAM AM
Bern Kilgariff has been at the forefront of political and community development in the Northern Territory for over 50 years. He work tirelessly for Self-Government of the Northern Territory and is viewed as on of the fathers of self government. At the age of 80, he continues to be active in community affairs, especially the YMCA and Year of the Outback activities. He spent 13 years as a Senator for the Northern Territory. Through this time he was also active in the Landcare Council, Anti-Rabbit Research Foundation, the Cattleworks Association and St John's Ambulance. Bern has made huge contributions to the community through his work with indigenous people, volunteer groups, tourism growth and government bodies. He is a man of compassion, innovation and integrity.

2003

NOLA SMITH Nola Smith is a tireless volunteer working on behalf of the under-represented aged population of the Northern Territory. She raises issues about the lack of nursing home and hostel care for seniors. She holds senior voluntary positions on both the NT Council of Ex-Servicewomen and the Darwin Laurel Club and represents both organisations at ministerial forums. In 1995 she hosted a reunion of Ex-Servicewomen attended by 950 veterans, winning the NT Brolga Tourism Award and a nomination for the National Tourism Awards. She also volunteers for the National Trust and the Australian Kidney Foundation, Legacy Badge Day, and Cancer Council Daffodil Day. These are in addition to her contribution to her retirement village residents' committee and her family.

2001

Mrs Nancy Giese AO, OBE, MBE

Mrs Nancy Giese AO, OBE, MBE
NT Senior Australian Archiever 2001

Mrs Nan Giese is a remarkable Senior Australian. Elected to the position of Chancellor of the Northern Territory University in 1993, Mrs Giese continues her life-long commitment to improving education for all Territorians. She not only chairs the Council meetings but also attends every standing committee meeting. Nan also takes a very active role in the University Art Collection committee and the NTU Foundation. In fact, NTU business occupies a high proportion of her day.

In her role as Chancellor, Nan travels both within the NT and in South East Asia and China. She would love to travel more often but doesn't have the time.

Nan also continues her commitment to the Arts in the Northern Territory as a life member of the Darwin Entertainment Centre, a Friend of the Darwin Symphony Orchestra and Darwin Chorale. She is a passionate advocate of local talent in both the visual and performing arts.

Since the death of her life partner Harry, Nan has taken on the role of custodian and caretaker of one of Darwin's most important and magnificent tropical gardens. These gardens surround Nan's home of 47 years, one of the few surviving National Trust homes in Darwin. At 79 years, Nan credits the upkeep of the garden with keeping her so fit.

Nan Giese, a much loved and respected Territorian, epitomises an active, dynamic, contributing and caring Senior Australian.

Mrs Beth Hogan

Mrs Beth Hogan
Senior Achiever

At the age of 79, Beth Hogan is a fine example of ageing gracefully. Beth was tragically widowed at a young age and left to bring up her son Ian alone. Beth is an active volunteer and has been the South Pacific Area Director for Quota, representing Australia, New Zealand and Fiji on the International Quota Board in Washington.

Currently Beth is still a keen Quotarian. She assists her local club in running the Bar at the Fred's Pass Show, having taken a Bar Attendants course at the age of 74, to enable her to help, her main responsibility now is to count the money as it comes in.

Beth also enjoys meeting the many young people she comes in contact with in her role as coordinator for Quota's nominations to the Young Australian of the Year Awards.

Beth broke her hip 6 years ago but has an active social life and continues her membership of many organisations. It is seldom that you can find Beth at home.

Cr Wendy Leach

Cr Wendy Leach
Senior Achiever

Councillor Wendy Leach has been an active member of the Batchelor community since she arrived there in 1962. She was elected as the Coomalie Council President in 1994 and has held this position ever since.

Wendy has many interests and has participated in a wide range of committees from Tourism to the Coomalie and District Health Advisory Committee. She is an active member of the Rum Jungle Recreation Club and worked tirelessly to assist Batchelor to win the National Tidy Town Award in 2000.

From 1972 to 1987 Wendy worked at Batchelor College and she contributed to the growth of this Aboriginal education institution.

At age 62 Wendy continues to work in administration for Century Resources, a drilling company, enjoys playing lawn bowls and watching Rugby, as well as meeting all her obligations as a Council President.

2000

Dr Valerie Asche

Dr. Valerie Asche

Born in Rupanyup, Victoria, in 1927 Valerie was educated in country schools before commencing a science course at Melbourne University. The enrolments during WW11 were low so this assisted country students greatly. She graduated BSc MSc and PhD with microbiology as a major and genetics and mathematics as sub majors.

Valerie was employed in four areas- a teacher at Melbourne University, a consultant microbiologist to industry, head of clinical unit at the Queen Victoria Medical Centre, Melbourne and finally head of the microbiology unit at the Menzies School of Health Research, Darwin. The last position was purely research into tropical diseases and was very productive. She is proud of her 40 odd scientific publications in refereed journals. She retired from this last position in 1994.

Valerie found microbiology a marvellous disciple and by attending annual national conferences she made many friends interstate and overseas. She could keep abreast with developments in this science. She felt a desire to return to microbiology some measure of the rewards she had gained. To this end she was a national treasurer of the Australian Society for Microbiology for seven years, formed an NT sub-branch of this society, is the convenor of a Trust which aims to raise $2M to provide scholarships for young microbiologists (hoping to keep them in Australia); and finally is editor of an annual publication 'Recent Advances in Microbiology'.

Despite a heavy workload, she is married with two children and several grandchildren. She also has supported her husband Austin, in his equally illustrious career. He has been a Family Court Judge, Chief Justice of the Northern Territory Supreme Court and Administrator of the Northern Territory. This last position involved Valerie in many community activities. She has been patron of 35 charities. Since retirement from Government House, she is still patron of 6 organisations and on 9 Board of Directors including Chairperson of the ASEA Rehab which sends medical teams to Timor and Flores. She is Chairman of Top FM.

Valerie has contributed nationally and internationally in her professional field, she has been an active supporter of the community through her active patronage and membership. She is a woman that has made a difference in the Territory and is a leader in her professional field, this deserved to be acknowledged and celebrated.