Green Thumbs Up For Northern Territory Local Hero

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13th November 2009, 12:00am - Views: 1061





People Feature Department Of Immigration And Citizenship 1 image


MEDIA RELEASE


097.09

12 November 2009

Green thumbs up for Northern Territory’s local hero 


The Department of Immigration and Citizenship (DIAC) tonight congratulated

Katherine-based horticulturalist Norma Higgins for being named the Northern

Territory’s Local Hero in the lead-up to the 2010 Australian of the Year

Awards.


DIAC is once again proud to sponsor Australia’s Local Hero Award and to

celebrate the extraordinary work of ordinary Australians who make their local

community a better place.  Next year is the 50th anniversary of the Australian

of the Year Awards.


Ms Higgins received the award for her active involvement in a number of

agriculture associations and her contribution to the NT agriculture industry

through the establishment of a local produce market in Katherine.


“Ms Higgins is an outstanding citizen who inspires us with the passion she has

for this country and its people,” a DIAC spokeswoman said.


“She established the Katherine community market, which has increased

profits for local farmers and had flow-on effects for tourism, training and

employment opportunities in the region.” 


Ms Higgins is active in the Katherine Horticultural Association, NT’s Primary

Industries Training Advisory Council and was a founding member of the NT

Women in Agriculture and the Katherine Region Food Processing Group.  


Her contributions to agriculture were also recognised with the 2008 NT Rural

Woman of the Year Award.


“Australia’s Local Hero Award acknowledges dedicated citizens such as

Norma who work tirelessly to make the lives of those around them that little bit

better,” the spokeswoman said.


“Our Local Heroes are extraordinary individuals whose passion and energy

strengthen our communities and encapsulate what it means to be Australian.”


The national Local Hero Award recipient will be announced in Canberra on

25 January 2010.


Media Enquiries: DIAC National Communications 02 6264 2244


Australian of the Year Awards & National Australia Day Council Media

Enquiries: Nicole Browne 02 9954 7677 or 0414 673 762


NORTHERN TERRITORY’S LOCAL HERO


Norma Higgins

Katherine

Horticulturalist

Norma Higgins is a passionate cook and mango grower who decided to create

an opportunity for local farmers and set up a weekly market in Katherine.  The

market has increased tourism and profits for local growers, whose produce

was mostly being shipped south.  It has delivered tangible self-sustaining

economic activity, employment, vocational education and training outcomes. 

Norma has also been involved in the Katherine Horticultural Association since

its inception, is actively involved with the Primary Industries Training Advisory

Council and is a founding member of her local group of NT Women in

Agriculture.  Her love of cooking led her and other Katherine women to form

the Katherine Region Food Processing Group and obtain a grant to set up a

commercial, community kitchen for locals to make their products.  In 2008,

Norma Higgins won the NT Rural Woman of the Year Award which recognises

the vital contribution women make to rural Australia.






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