2025 AUSTRALIAN OF THE YEAR AWARDS NOMINEES FOR NORTHERN TERRITORY ANNOUNCED
Health advocates, a wildlife carer, a woman uniting people through football, a cultural knowledge-keeper and a sculptor are just some of the nominees for the 2025 Australian of the Year Awards for the Northern Territory.
The 2025 award nominees are:
2025 Australian of the Year for the Northern Territory
Donna Ah Chee - Indigenous health champion (Alice Springs)
Franck Gohier - Printmaker, painter, sculptor and artist (Darwin)
Zainab Mohamud - Football and diversity advocate (Palmerston)
Grant Ngulmiya Nundhirribala - Musician, role model and cultural leader (Numbulwar)
2025 Senior Australian of the Year for the Northern Territory
Georgina Bracken - Community changemaker (Tennant Creek)
Michael Foley OAM - Community volunteer and founder, Seniors Of Excellence NT (Casuarina)
Frank Holmes - Alyawarr knowledge-keeper and advocate (Ampilatwatja)
Jennifer Messell - Registered nurse and aged care facilities manager (Nightcliff)
2025 Young Australian of the Year for the Northern Territory
Nilesh Dilushan - Community service leader (Darwin)
Jules Gabor - Youth advocate (Darwin)
Carlito Rodrigues - Athlete and co-founder, One Percent Program (Darwin)
Melissa Wurramarrba - Indigenous education trailblazer and advocate (Ngukurr Community, SE Arnhem)
2025 Local Hero for the Northern Territory
Yvette Clarke - Sepsis prevention ambassador (Berry Springs)
Gaylene Yenhu Gurruwiwi - Co-founder, Galiwin’ku Women’s Space (Galuwinku)
Mandaka Marika - Indigenous community and land conservation advocate (Yirrkala)
Mignon McHendrie - Wildlife carer and advocate (Darwin River)
The Northern Territory nominees are among 137 people being recognised across all states and territories.
The Northern Territory award recipients will be announced on Monday 4 November 2024 in a ceremony at the Darwin Convention Centre, which will also be available to watch online at australianoftheyear.org.au.
They will then join the other state and territory recipients as national finalists for the national awards announcement on 25 January 2025 in Canberra.
National Australia Day Council CEO Mark Fraser AO CVO congratulated the Northern Territory
nominees on their recognition.
“The nominees for the Northern Territory awards are all great achievers or contributors,” said Mark.
“From tackling some of the most pressing health and community issues to protecting and sharing culture to conserving land and fauna, they are all inspirational.”
ENDS.
Nominee bios can be viewed at australianoftheyear.org.au or in the pdf of media release below.
Nominee photos can be downloaded from this link (note – all photos have been supplied by nominees): NT NOMINEE PHOTOS
MEDIA CONTACT: Nicole Browne 0414 673 762 or nicole@mediaopps.com.au