Awards 2017

Darryl Butler - Batchelor

Darryl retired to Batchelor around 2007 and soon noticed that the community needed a bus to take Seniors to Darwin for shopping and appointments.

Darryl started a Branch of COTA in Batchelor and initiated negotiations with Coomalie Council to utilise their small bus for the Darwin shopping trips. The bus is now driven by a volunteer who also picks up people from Adelaide River for the trip to Darwin and return, once a month.

As the Chair of COTA, Darryl represented the NT at National Conferences and advised how Federal Policies affected NT Seniors. Darryl is currently the secretary, has set up and continues to produce a monthly newsletter for Coomalie Seniors.

Darryl also established The Men's Shed in Batchelor. This activity also welcomes women and holds a barbecue at the Batchelor Markets.

About 10 years ago Darryl established the B3 exercise group which runs weekly guided exercises, to help the aging with mobility. In 2015, he started another group in Adelaide River and it too, is proving to be very popular. Darryl dances with Tracks, and brought the Grey Panthers to Batchelor to show what can be achieved. He is currently studying choreography so he can devise gentle dance routines for seniors.

Darryl also began a Gardening Group in Batchelor that meets monthly. He has also volunteered at the historical Adelaide River Railway Station and the Adelaide River Show society for a number of years.

Darryl is very community minded and is a great asset to the Coomalie Community.

Nominated by Jan Hills - Seconded by Janette Jewell