Awards 2018

Judith (Judy) Miller

Nominated by Mr Allan Mitchell 

Seconded by Mr David Swift

Judith Judy Miller is 81 years of age but you wouldn't know it!

Judy cannot remember every organisation she has been involved with and has told me that community volunteering was instilled in her by her parents when she was only a young girl.

For more than 20 years, Judith has been involved in the Official Visitor Program which independent persons are given access to the prisons and juvenile detention and holding centres for the purpose of meeting with prisoners and performing an independent oversight function inquiring into the treatment, behavior and conditions. This program has operated in the Northern Territory since the commencement of the Prisons (Correctional Services) Act of June 1981. Judy was involved in this program from the beginning.

Judy has also been a member of the Darwin Stingers Masters Swimming NT an Australia wide 'not for profit' organisation for adult swimmers aged 18 years and over. Its purpose is encouraging all adults, regardless of ability, to swim regularly and compete in order to promote fitness and improve their general well-being.

Judy helped establish the first 'walking group' in the Northern Territory, the Mitchell Centre Walking Group in February 2002. And within six months, helped to start the Casuarina Walking Group. Both of these groups continued to exist with 20/30 walkers turning up every week. Judy is still an active member of this group.

Judy is also a member of both the Arafura Bridge Club and the Darwin Bridge Club. She has been the President of the Coconut Grove Seniors Hall Inc for the past six

years.

At various times, Judy has volunteered her time at the Craft Council shop in the Foyer of Parliament House and helped out with High Teas on Sunday afternoons for the National Trust NT at Burnett House. Judy has a great sense of public spiritedness shown by purchasing a table and bench at East point, something often done by families in remembrance.

Judy suffered a stroke in early June 2018. She was still in hospital at the time this Nomination was received but thankfully she is expected to make a reasonable recovery. But it's early days yet. It is unlikely that she would ever drive again.

As President of the Coconut Grove Seniors, she was actively organizing the August seniors month activities which has now been handed over to other members who were very reliant upon her.

It is unfortunate that Judy is being nominated at this time for Judy was equally deserving of this award many years ago but life is like that.

Judy will now have to slow down and leave some of the duties to others, so this is an excellent time to say thank you on behalf of the many individuals, clubs and associations of which she has been very much, a 'hands—on' member.