Recipients of this year’s Councillor Pat Dixon Memorial Trust Scholarships, supporting First Nations people in local government, were announced at the recent 2024 NSW Local Government Week Awards.
This year’s awardees are Kiama Municipal Council’s Councillor Stuart Larkins, Central Darling Shire’s Roxanne Kennedy, and Hawkesbury City Council’s Hayden Jones.
The annual scholarships were established in honour of Cr Pat Dixon, a Dhanggati woman who became the first Aboriginal woman elected to local government in Australia.
The scholarships are offered through the Pat Dixon Memorial Scholarship Trust to support Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander councillors and staff with financial assistance for further study, research, or professional development.
They aim to inspire more Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people to work in local government and represent their communities, while providing opportunities to build technical and leadership skills to mentor their peers and promote First Nations in culture in local government.
Local Government NSW (LGNSW) President and scholarship trustee, Councillor Darriea Turley AM congratulated this year’s recipients.
She said it was only the second time that three scholarships had been awarded in a single year, which demonstrated the wealth of talent coming through council ranks.
“We could not have chosen better recipients to honour the legacy of Cr Pat Dixon, who has left such an amazing legacy for not only her people, but for women in the local government sector,” President Turley said.
“It’s incredibly important to support all the promising people working for the communities through their local council.
“We need to back the next generation, particularly those individuals who help ensure that our councils reflect the rich and diverse communities they serve.”
“It’s fabulous that the Trust in her name is helping to foster the careers of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people in the local government sector.”
Cr Dixon’s family member and Scholarship Trustee, Warren Roberts, commended this year’s recipients and said he was proud of Cr Dixon’s achievements and the important work she continues to inspire.
“I look forward to seeing their work in local government continue to inspire future generations of First Nations people to look towards representing and working for their communities, in the closest level of government to the community,” Mr Roberts said.
“As a member of Aunty Pat’s family, I am thrilled to see her legacy growing in recognition through the presentation of the scholarship in her name at the Local Government awards night.
“She was a trail blazer for women and Aboriginal people, and she continues to inspire people to enter careers in local government and politics,” he said.
Recipients of the Scholarships are determined by four trustees: Local Government Aboriginal Network President, Cr Dominic Wy Kanak; Cr Trish Frail of Brewarrina Shire Council, Mr Warren Roberts, a family representative of the late Pat Dixon, and the LGNSW President Cr Darriea Turley AM.
About the recipients
All successful applicants plan to use their new skills at their respective councils for the betterment of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples in their communities and in the local government sector.
Cr Stuart Larkins – Kiama Municipal Council
Cr Stuart Larkins, a Wodi Wodi man, said he would use the scholarship to complete a Master of Public Policy.
He said he hoped it would assist him with identifying local problems and providing solutions to the council and community.
Roxanne Kennedy – Central Darling Shire
Ms Kennedy, a technical officer in council’s engineering team, lives in the Wilcannia community.
She received the scholarship to complete further training in technical road/engineering design software and the more technical aspects relating to drone usage.
She said her training would be of great benefit to Central Darling Shire Council by improving the depths of skills within the engineering team.
Hayden Jones – Hawkesbury City Council
Mr Jones, a descendent from the Darug people and a council project manager, received the scholarship to complete a Diploma of Project Management.
He said he aimed to improve his theoretical knowledge base and use a range of specialised, technical and managerial competencies.
