Charles Darwin University has enjoyed outstanding success at the recent 2009 Northern Territory Young Achievers Awards with several of its past and present students winning awards.
Bachelor of Pharmacy graduate Simone Liddy, took top honors in the Power and Water Science and Engineering Award category. She was again the toast of the evening as she was announced the overall Young Achiever of the Year for the Northern Territory.
Simone last year completed her Bachelor in Pharmaceutical Studies through CDU, proudly becoming the first Indigenous student to graduate the course.
Simone, an Indigenous Darwin local, added to her remarkable list of achievements at only 21 years of age in winning the coveted award.
She has received many awards including outstanding academic achievement medals all through high school, achievements in mathematics, science and chemistry, she won the Indigenous student of the year in 2004 and NAIDOC youth of the year in 2007, in addition to her endless list of sporting achievements.
Now that Simone has completed her degree, she is focusing on using her education to work in health in the Northern Territory and assist in wider community issues relating to Indigenous health.
Other CDU students recognised at the NT Young Achiever Awards for their achievements included:
The Perkins Shipping Sports Award, Jack Benson
At only 21 years old, Jack Benson is already one of the NT’s most accomplished sailors. In March 2008, Jack and partner Rohan Langworthy took top honours in the youth division of the World Tornado Sailing Championships in Auckland.
The world youth crown followed Jack’s sterling second at the Men’s Australian Championships earlier that year. He has set his sights towards Europe, where he can also chase his Olympic dreams.
Somerville Community Service Award, Kat Byron
Currently a passionate member and chair of the Red Cross’ Youth Advisory Committee and Policy Officer of the United Nations Youth Association, Kat’s focus is on development and youth engagement on local, national and international levels.
Her volunteer work is an inspiration to all those around her. She is involved in Headspace, Happy Yess, MusicNT, and the NT AIDS and Hepatitis Council.
Her diversity of roles and responsibilities allows Kat to find a medium of communication between local youths and the community.
ConocoPhillips Environment Award, Katie Chatto
Katie is an environmental trooper. Using knowledge gained from her studies in eco tourism and heritage, she is fighting to raise awareness of the many environmental issues faced in communities of the Northern Territory.
Katie believes in setting examples, by learning more about Indigenous culture and always contributing to her community through volunteer work and local groups.
Her personal achievements are many, including participating in the Duke of Edinburgh Award, Chair of the 2008 Youth Ministers Round Table, an Australian Conservation Foundation member and Ecotourism Australia member.
McArthur River Mining Regional and Rural Initiative Award, Bronte James
Bronte typifies the all round Territory Cattle pioneer. Whether it be handling heavy machinery, riding wild horses, working with large herds of cattle, feeding hungry stockmen or in the office finishing financial reports, she puts her whole heart into the country that she loves so much.
Her time is divided between shift work in the northern gold mines and the family cattle station, a whopping 500kms away where she assists the family with the daily operations of the property.
Her passions really lie on the family land. At a mere five years of age, she began raising her first cow and has since formed her own herd.