Northern Territory Australian of the Year awards nominees named

Nine of this year's 16 nominees are members of the senior community, including three in the Australian of the Year category, two Local Heroes and the four Senior Australian of of the Year nominees.

The 16 Northern Territory nominees are among 133 people being recognised across all states and territories.

Since its inception in 1960, the Australian of the Year awards program has provided a focal point for Australia Day celebrations and a forum for the recognition of outstanding achievement.

National Australia Day Council chief executive Mark Fraser congratulated all of the Territory's nominees, describing them as "great Territorians doing extraordinary things".

"The nominees for the Northern Territory awards are passionate contributors to community and leaders who carve a path so others can also benefit," he said.

Award recipients will be announced in a ceremony at Darwin Convention Centre on Monday November 6 which can be viewed on the Australian of the Year website.

Winners will join the other state and territory recipients as national finalists, with national award winners to be announced in Canberra on January 25.

So who are this year's nominees? Read on for a comprehensive rundown.

Alan Andersen

The 66-year-old is a world-leading ant community ecologist and science communicator whose work has improved understanding of the impacts of mining, burning, invasive species, climate change and other disturbances to the natural environment.

His expertise has improved understanding of the territory's biodiversity assets, helping to guide management of fire and invasive species, deepening Indigenous engagement in land and water management, and helping to develop economic opportunities in the new carbon economy.

An engaging speaker with a knack for explaining complicated scientific concepts, Professor Andersen is the first Fellow of the Australian Academy of Science from the Northern Territory, the author of five books and over 260 scientific publications, and has over 20,000 career citations.

Sammy Butcher

A musician, composer, teacher and elder of the Papunya community, Sammy has used music to show how dedication and love of community can bring people of all cultures together for four decades.

The 61-year-old was a founding member of the groundbreaking Warumpi Band, which brought songs and issues from the members' homeland to global audiences, as well as the Papunya Recording Studio, where he still works to this day.

A mentor to younger generations, one of his major life focuses has been preventing suicide and substance abuse among young people, and he has spent decades teaching and encouraging the young people of central Australian communities to play, record and tour their music.

Blair McFarland

Blair is a regular participant in politics, advocacy, local radio and community services.

The 66-year-old founded Central Australian Youth Link-Up Service (CAYLUS) in response to the petrol sniffing epidemic in 2002. The organisation was instrumental in developing youth programs, orchestrating the roll-out of low aromatic fuel and implementing the Federal Low Aromatic Fuel Act, resulting in a 95 per cent reduction in misuse.

In 2008, he received the Prime Minister's Award for Outstanding Contribution in Drug & Alcohol Endeavours by the Australian National Council on Drugs.

Benjamin Graetz

Ben is a trailblazer in the performing arts, First Nations and LGBTIQ+ communities, whose work has amplified the often-unheard voices of the First Nations LGBTIQ+ community.

Life was difficult for Ben as a queer Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander child in 1970s Darwin, but he found where he belonged while studying in Western Australia and then Sydney - where he first performed in drag as Miss Ellaneous at the age of 25.

Since those early days, the 46-year-old has become a key figure of Australia's First Nations and LGBTIQ+ arts scene. He launched First Nations arts festival Garrmalang and drag competition Miss First Nation, was the first Indigenous creative director of Sydney WorldPride and founded Indigenous-owned performance services business BRG Productions.

Leony Bowey

At 69 years of age, Leony is a long-time volunteer for Multicultural Community Services Central Australia (formerly the Migrant Resource Centre), and has provided practical assistance and social connection for people living far from their homelands and families for more than four decades.

After growing up in the Phillipines, she came to Alice Springs with her husband in 1984 and identified a need to help other female migrants feel less isolated, especially those looking after children.

She and a few others started a multicultural playgroup, women's group, dance and craft groups before the incorporation of the existing Migrant Resource Centre in 1992.

Leony was named Centralian Citizen of the Year this year.

Elizabeth Hart

Known as Bess, Elizabeth has made a huge contribution to community fundraising in Katherine for 13 years.

Her annual Newhaven Biggest Morning Tea for Northern Territory Cancer Council has become a highlight of the town's social calendar. What started as a small fundraiser for family and neighbours has continued to grow and she has raised more than $100,000 for the charity to date.

Also a dedicated volunteer, Bess has assisted Rural Aid to support farmers doing it tough, and is active with both the Salvation Army and the National Trust.

Elaine Lawurrpa Maypilama

A researcher, educator and co-founder of the Yalu Aboriginal Corporation, Associate Professor Maypilama has been involved with Charles Darwin University and Menzies School of Health for more than 20 years.

The 70-year-old has skilfully guided non-Indigenous researchers to engage with Yolngu people for a positive exchange of knowledge, and was awarded an Honorary Doctorate from Charles Darwin University in 2013.

In 2002, she helped set up Yalu Marnggithinyaraw Indigenous Corporation, now the Yalu Aboriginal Corporation, as a research hub in Galiwin'ku to support health research and deliver community education.

Yalmay Yunupingu

A teacher, linguist and community leader, this respected 67-year-old elder from north-east Arnhem Land guided teaching at Yirrkala Bilingual School for four decades, prior to her retirement in March

Often referred to as the mother of the school, she started by translating Dr Seuss books from the community library into her local Yolngu Matha language, before qualifying as a teacher and, along with her husband, devising a bilingual approach to education.

Yalmay is in constant demand for consultations, projects and her traditional healing work, and was awarded a Teacher of Excellence by the Northern Territory Department of Education and made an Honorary University Fellow at the Charles Darwin University in 2005. Since retiring, she has been teaching the next generation about traditional healing.

Deborah Jones

This 61-year-old - known as Deb - created Clubhouse Territory in 2013 so she could make sure everyone could play sport, regardless of ability. This goal quickly evolved into encouraging people from all walks of life to participate and get involved in all aspects of a community.

The not-for-profit's programs place a heavy focus on inclusion and recently opened to NDIS participants. They are based on five themes: sports participation, the arts, health, education and social inclusion. Events include the Be-Inclusive Games, A Day in the Life Workshops and the All-Abilities Come-N-Try program. About 4000 attendees participate each year.

Clubhouse Territory won the Zip Print Sports in the Community Award at last year's Northern Territory Community Achievement Awards.

Witiyana Marika

This 62-year-old musician and filmmaker and Rirratjingu (Yolngu) elder is best known as one of the founding members of famous rock band, Yothu Yindi, but he has also been celebrated for his acting roles, other musical projects, cross-cultural education and being a leader of his people.

Most recently, Witiyana was the senior cultural advisor to the film High Ground, which he also co-produced and starred in. Although the movie's story is fictional, its roots are based in fact and portray the stories of the massacres of Indigenous people.

A senior Dirritay and Dhalgarra (ceremonial leader) and a teacher of songlines and ceremonies for his clan, Witiyana is known for being generous and inclusive with his cultural knowledge and continuing the practice of Yolu Nation Cycle and Rom (lore).

The other Local Hero Nominees are:

Nominees in this category are: