The Lord Mayoral Awards recognise and honour individuals with disabilities who have made a significant impact in the community by standing up for the rights and well-being of others with disabilities.

Nominations for the 2024 Awards are now closed.

The Awards were announced at the DiversAbility Fun Day on Tuesday 3 December 2024 in celebration of International Day of People with Disability. 

Nomination Categories

The Champion Award

A person who has made an outstanding contribution to the community by advocating for the rights and well-being of people with disabilities.

Criteria:

The nominee has a disability. The nominee has made a significant contribution to the Darwin community, which has resulted in improved conditions, services, well-being, or understanding of individuals or groups of people with disabilities. The nominee has a record of being a champion for the rights of people with disabilities.

The Rising Star Award

A person under 25 who is actively helping their school, workplace, or community by advocating for the rights and well-being of people with disabilities.

Criteria:

The nominee is under 25 years old with a disability. The nominee makes an ongoing contribution to their school, workplace or community. The nominee advocates for the rights and well-being of people with disability.

2024 Winners

(L-R) Champion Award winner, Richard Crookes; QLD/NT State Manager for Sport4All and for time Paralympian, Blake Cochrane; Deputy Lord Mayor, Sam Weston, Rising Star Award winner, Tristan Toll.

Champion Award

Richard Crookes, a passionate advocate who has dedicated his efforts to improving the lives of stroke survivors and their families across the Northern Territory, was awarded the Champion Award. Through public education campaigns, Richard has championed the critical F.A.S.T. message to help communities recognise and respond to strokes quickly.  Richard works tirelessly to improve accessibility, advocating for disability ramps at fishing spots and increased wheelchair parking.  Richard’s support for hospital patients and leadership in fundraising initiatives like Stride4Stroke further highlight his unwavering commitment to supporting the community.  As a stroke survivor, Richard draws on his lived experience, advocacy, writing, and community initiatives to inspire and empower others.

Rising Star Award

Tristan Toll, a 19-year-old entrepreneur and advocate for access and inclusion in employment, was awarded the Rising Star Award. Tristan co-founded a thriving lawn mowing and gardening business dedicated to empowering people with disabilities and is now the Operations Manager, leading a team across more than 150 sites. Tristan’s impact extends beyond business, he was recognised for co-designing and supporting facilitating programs such as ‘Get Ready to Work’ and ‘Supported Employment, Empowering Disabilities’, which focus on developing skills and knowledge in the gardening sector, as well as understanding employment rights. Living with Autism, Tristan shares his journey to inspire others and spoke at the 2023 NT Youth Conference. Passionate about fairness and inclusion, Tristan creates opportunities to ensure everyone feels valued and empowered to achieve their goals.

Past Winners

2023 Winners

 The winners of the 2023 Lord Mayoral Awards were announced at the Carnival of Fun held on 1 December 2023 to celebrate International Day of People with Disability.

(L-R) The Champion award winner, Izzy Dak; City of Darwin Lord Mayor, Kon Vatskalis; and Rising Star award winner, Toby Reynolds.

The Champion award winner for 2023 is Izzy Dak. A passionate advocate for people with lived experience of disability, Izzy Dak has been awarded The Champion Award for his tireless work in various working groups and advisory boards including the NTPHN Access and Advisory Group. Izzy is a life member of Integrated disAbility Action and in the last 12 months has volunteered at many events including the Carnival of Fun, All Abilities Expo, Australia Day Oz Fusion 2023 and the Royal Darwin Show. A genuinely kind person, Izzy was recognised for easily building relationships by taking the time to make himself available to the community, enabling people with a disability to share confidences with him. Izzy utilises his proactive attitude to advocate on behalf of people with a disability by raising issues in the community.

The Rising Star award winner for 2023 is Toby Reynolds. A member of the Sing Song Signers and a talented sports person, Toby Reynolds, has been awarded the Rising Star award for his participation in community activities and prowess on the sporting field. Toby has represented the Northern Territory at the Special Olympics in ten pin bowling and in athletics as a junior, and currently plays Rising Stars basketball and participates in winners league bowling and athletics. Toby was recognised for his efforts in leading by example while advocating for people with disabilities through his participation and success in various sports and activities. Toby connects with people through sports, and his participation has allowed him a better understanding of individuals with disabilities as well as helped him develop different communication tools and styles.

2022 Winners

 The winners of the 2022 Lord Mayoral Awards were announced at the Carnival of Fun held on 2 December 2022 to celebrate International Day of People with Disability.

The Rising Star for 2022 is Abigail Maralngurra. Abigail is the youngest member of the Freespace Public Art Collective, the group of exceptional artists operating out of Darwin Community Art's, Free Space Studio, who delivered the most significant public art installation created in Darwin. Abigail's contribution to the Jingili Water Gardens Playground upgrade was significant in scale and sophisticated in concept, responding to the ecosystem of the Rapid Creek area through her drawings. Abigail's art has been used outside of this project to feature on City of Darwin infrastructure in parts of Rapid Creek and the Nightcliff Foreshore. For the significance of her contribution to the vibrancy of Darwin at such a young age Abigail is deserving Rising Star winner.

The Champion for 2022 is Paul Johnes. Paul has facilitated vegetable gardens at his supported independent living accommodation and at the Inclusion Centre encouraging everyone to join in reducing stress and promoting positivity. Paul has introduced the activity of wood burning at The Inclusion Centre and takes it upon himself to impart his skills and provide exceptional support to people who would like to learn this activity. he tries to enrich the lives of people around him - his unsolicited mentoring and contributions to participants at the centre display his dedication to serving people around him. he also educates others about their rights and services they can access from NDIS.