2007 Australia Day Awards

The winners of the 2007 Australia Day Awards were announced during Jabiru’s Australia Day event on Friday 26 January. Congratulations to the winners, and all who were nominated.

Rebecca Lindner – Young Citizen of the Year
This year’s Young Citizen of the Year Award was awarded to Rebecca Lindner, a popular and active member of the Jabiru community. She is not only achieving great things with her schooling, she is also making a contribution to the community through her extra curricular activities.
In 2006 Rebecca completed year 12 through the NT Open Education Centre at Jabiru Area School, and received several awards. She was also awarded the NT Certificate of Education, but plans to return to school this year to take on more subjects so she qualifies for a Tertiary Entrance Ranking.
In 2006 she received a scholarship from the Indigenous Youth Leadership Program, and as part of this program, she formed a junior Gunbang Action Group with other students at Jabiru Area School, to provide a support network to young people dealing with alcohol related issues themselves or in family members and friends.
With several other Jabiru Area School students, Rebecca presented to the education forum at the 2006 Garma Festival, in front of heavyweights such as Helen Garnett and Sid Stirling.
Rebecca is a wonderful role model for Indigenous women in Kakadu.

Fran Marsh – Citizen of the Year
Fran Marsh was this year’s winner of the Citizen of the Year Award. Fran’s contribution to our community is significant, particularly amongst the young people of Jabiru.
Fran provides ongoing support to the Kakadu Youth Centre, and is a tutor at the Jabiru Area School. She is actively involved with the Jabiru Skate Park Crew, and organises fundraising for skate trips to Darwin.
Fran is a regular contributor to the Jabiru Rag community newspaper, and she consistently promotes the youth of our community by providing articles detailing their activities and achievements.
Fran is a familiar sight at most community events in Jabiru. She is one of the main players in the Friends of Kakadu group, which is actively addressing the cane toad problem in Kakadu.
Fran spends her ‘spare’ time on call as a volunteer ambulance driver for Kakadu. She has been a wonderful asset to our community over a number of years.

Kakadu Mahbilil Festival – Community Event of the Year Award
The Community Event of the Year Award went to the Kakadu Mahbilil Festival.
The Kakadu Mahbilil, formerly known as the Kakadu Wind Festival, celebrated its 20th anniversary in 2006, with an event that attracted over 1,000 people, and was hailed as the most successful in recent history.
The event committee, led by Graham Dewar of the Gundjeihmi Aboriginal Corporation, included representatives from Energy Resources Australia, Kakadu National Park, Jabiru Town Council, Charles Darwin University, ERISS and local business operators.
Community groups such as the Jabiru Bushratz, the Kakadu Youth Centre and the Alligator Fishing Club were given the opportunity to use the event for fundraising, and small businesses were offered a stall to display their wares.
The entertainment in 2006 included a headline act, Deborah Conway, and a range of Indigenous bands including the popular ‘Narbalek’. The day’s events also included cultural activities, fireworks, a fire twirling display and face painting.
The Kakadu Mahbilil Festival is a true ‘community’ event, which is both organised and attended by a wide range of people in Kakadu.