His Honour Professor the Honourable Hugh Heggie AO PSM, Administrator of the Northern Territory, will travel to Arnhem Land on Tuesday 9 July to conduct two Investiture Ceremonies.
In the morning, His Honour will invest Ms Bettina Danganbarr AM and Ms Kaye Thurlow AM at a ceremony on the Galiwin’ku Church Lawns.
In the afternoon, a second ceremony will be held in Gunyangara, where His Honour will invest Mr Klaus Helms OAM.
“The awardees are integral people in their communities, who make a real difference every single day,” His Honour said. “I am delighted to be travelling to their home communities during NAIDOC Week to conduct these investitures on country.
“We have so many people in remote corners of our vast Northern Territory who do outstanding work, whose dedication to community, culture and place is deserving of recognition. I encourage everyone to consider nominating an outstanding Territorian through the Order of Australia.
“My heartfelt congratulations and thanks to Ms Bettina Danganbarr, Ms Kaye Thurlow and Mr Klaus Helms. You are most deserving of this honour and recognition.”
Ms Bettina Danganbarr AM
Ms Bettina Danganbarr has served with the Northern Territory Police, Fire and Emergency Services since 2007 and is currently a Senior Aboriginal Community Police Officer.
Ms Danganbarr was a co-founder of the Galiwin’ku Women’s Space and since 2012 has served as its Chairperson. Galiwin’ku Women’s Space is the only space dedicated to the support and empowerment of women on Elcho Island and is led by Yolŋu women and supported by the broader community.
Ms Danganbarr is also an artist. She contributes her artwork to community fundraisers and her artwork was featured in a community awareness campaign for Crime Stoppers NT.
Ms Danganbarr was named Northern Territory’s Local Hero on the Australian of the Year Awards Honour Roll in 2018. She was the Northern Territory Recipient of the Women’s Leadership Award in 2019, and in 2021 received the Aboriginal Leadership Medal at the Northern Territory Chief Minister’s Awards.
Ms Kaye Thurlow AM
Ms Thurlow is Deputy President and former President of the East Arnhem Regional Council, and has been a Councillor for the Gumurr Marthakal Ward since 2008. She is a member of the Galiwin’ku Local Authority and Galiwin’ku Housing Reference Group. Ms Thurlow is former President of the Latitude 12 Committee and is a former Executive Committee Member of, the Local Government Association of the Northern Territory (LGANT), of which she is currently a Representative Member.
Ms Thurlow is former Secretary of the Galiwin’ku Community Advisory Board and a former member of the Galiwin’ku Local Reference Group. She is a Representative Member of the Northern Territory Place Names Committee.
Ms Thurlow started teaching at Shepherdson College in 1969, was the Founder of the Senior Yolngu Management Team, and served twice as Assistant Principal and then Principal in 2006 to 2007.
At Milingimbi School, Ms Thurlow was Teacher-Linguist, School Librarian, Assistant Principal and Principal, and she was also a teacher at Lajamanu School.
Ms Thurlow initiated the update of Galiwin’ku Community genealogical records in coordination with Galiwin’ku Community Incorporated.
Mr Klaus Helms OAM
Mr Klaus Helms has been the Chief Executive Officer of the Gumatj Corporation since 2011. The Gumatj Corporation aims to develop sustainable industry through harnessing the natural resources of North East Arnhem Land and to secure a better future for Indigenous people by building businesses that support the community and give everyone purpose.
Mr Helms has devoted most of the past five decades to improving the lives of the local Indigenous community and promoting reconciliation.
Mr Helms served as Director of Government and Community Relations for Alcan from 2005 to 2007 and then as Government Business Manager for the Department of Families, Housing, Community Services and Indigenous Affairs from 2007 to 2011.
Mr Helms was instrumental in establishing projects such as cattle farming, meat production, timber mills and fishing operations to reduce the cost of living in communities. In 2014, he was named Northern Territory Senior Australian of the Year.
GPO Box 497, Darwin NT 0801
