Local Government Association of the Northern Territory (LGANT) life member, Kerry Moir, received the Medal (OAM) of the Order of Australia in the Australia Day 2023 Honours List for her service to local government and the community.
The Order of Australia recognises Australians who have demonstrated outstanding service or exceptional achievement.
In a statement, LGANT described Mrs Moir’s service in local government in the Territory as “exceptional”.
Mrs Moir says she is most proud of her work in engaging Aboriginal people in local government.
“The LGANT Executive wanted the voices of Aboriginal people in regional and remote areas of the NT to be heard and for representation to be fair,” she said.
“There was quite a lot of local government reform during my time at LGANT so I travelled a lot to meet with constituents and elected members to hear their concerns. It was quite a traumatic period for some Aboriginal people so I felt it my duty to advocate on their behalf.”
She served as a councillor with the City of Darwin from 1992-2012 and was a member of the LGANT Executive from 2000-2012, including President from 2006-2012.
While President of LGANT, Mrs Moir represented the Territory on the Australian Local Government Association Board. She was also a committee member of the NT Branch of the Australian Local Government Women’s Association from 2010-2013.
LGANT President, Kon Vatskalis, congratulated Mrs Moir on behalf of LGANT and the local government sector.
“I have known Kerry for a long time, over 30 years. She was an active and effective Councillor and I’m absolutely thrilled she has been recognised for her endless and tireless work for the Darwin community and the local government sector more broadly. Kerry is a shining example of what people can achieve if they’re community minded,” he said.
Mr Vatskalis said that during her time on the Executive and President of LGANT, Mrs Moir was involved in significant reform in the local government sector, including a review of the sector and subsequent development and implementation of the Local Government Act 2008.
