I have had many favourite moments during the years of my life. But the one I want to recall happened on the evening of May 19, 2023, when I was awarded the Order

of Australia Medal for education services. My award was presented by the NT Administrator His Honour Professor the Honourable Hugh Heggie.

A joy to me was having four family members who were there for me that night.

When notified of my award by the Secretary of the Awards Program, Mr Singer, I wrote back to him as follows.

“Dear Mr Singer

Thank you for this advice and please know that I feel both pride and humility in being recognised as an OAM recipient to be announced on January 26.  I appreciate whoever nominated me and have to tell you that your email has made my day.  I will value this honour highly and appreciate all who have been a part of deciding this conferral.

I gave up the possible inheritance of a family farm to enter teacher’s college as a mature-age student in 1968, this being the beginning of a very satisfying and fulfilling career. 

Might I please share with you my statement of mission, developed during a leadership program in 1983, which became the ethos and the underpinning driver of my life?

“ To fulfil and be fulfilled in organisational terms, family, work and recreation.

   To acquit my responsibilities with integrity.

   To work (I later changed ‘work’ to ‘live’) with a smile in my heart.”

Again, thank you for your advice and an inner feeling of uplift engendered within my being.”

The award means a lot.