Anne Marie Gardiner (born 18 June 1931) is a community and heritage advocate living and working on the

Tiwi Islands The Tiwi Islands ( tiw, Ratuati Irara meaning "two islands") are part of the Northern Territory, Australia, to the north of Darwin adjoining the Timor Sea. They comprise Melville Island, Bathurst Island, and nine smaller uninhabited islands, w ...

of the

Northern Territory The Northern Territory (commonly abbreviated as NT; formally the Northern Territory of Australia) is an states and territories of Australia, Australian territory in the central and central northern regions of Australia. The Northern Territory ...

Australia Australia, officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a Sovereign state, sovereign country comprising the mainland of the Australia (continent), Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous List of islands of Australia, sma ...

for more than 50 years. She was named the Senior Australian of the Year in 2017.

Early life

Gardiner was born in

Gundagai Gundagai is a town in New South Wales, Australia. Although a small town, Gundagai is a popular topic for writers and has become a representative icon of a typical Australian country town. Located along the Murrumbidgee River and Muniong, Honeys ...

New South Wales ) , nickname = , image_map = New South Wales in Australia.svg , map_caption = Location of New South Wales in AustraliaCoordinates: , subdivision_type = Country , subdivision_name = Australia , established_title = Before federation , es ...

on 18 June 1931. From a farming family, she went to school at the Mercy School of St Stanislaus, completing her education at St Joseph's Boarding College in

Albury Albury () is a major regional city in New South Wales, Australia. It is located on the Hume Highway and the northern side of the Murray River. Albury is the seat of local government for the council area which also bears the city's name – the ...

. She entered the Order of Our Lady of the Sacred Heart on 31 May 1949, attracted by the opportunity to work with Aboriginal people.

Contribution to the Northern Territory

Gardiner moved to the Bathurst Island in 1953, at 22 years of age. She then taught at St Mary's Primary School from 1966 and Daly River in 1969, returning to Bathurst Island in 1970. She has spent the 50 of the last 63 years there supporting the Tiwi culture and community. Gardiner retired as principal of the local primary school having taught nearly five generations. Gardiner has worked with children forming community groups such as mother's clubs, athletics clubs, regular prayer meetings, an opportunity shop and a coffee shop. She has also worked for nearly four decades to establish the Patakajiyali Museum where Tiwi history, culture and language is preserved for future generations. Gardiner fell ill in 1996 and was airlifted from Bathurst Island to Darwin for treatment. She recovered, but in 1997, Gardiner announced that she was leaving Nguiu, and moving to Broome. She returned to the Tiwi Islands

Awards

Gardiner received the Lyn Powierza Scholarship in 1993 for her contribution to education in the Northern Territory. Gardiner was appointed a

Member of the Order of Australia The Order of Australia is an honour that recognises Australian citizens and other persons for outstanding achievement and service. It was established on 14 February 1975 by Elizabeth II, Queen of Australia, on the advice of the Australian Gove ...

in 1996, which was presented on Nguiu. Of the experience she said "everyone cried and cried with happiness for me. They are beautiful people to work and live with." She was then named the Senior Australian of the Year in 2017. She describes the importance of living in the present, that nothing is real unless "you live out your faith".

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Gardiner, Anne 1931 births Living people Members of the Order of Australia People from New South Wales