Awards 2019

Shirley Downing

From: Anula

Nominated by Lily Chan

Seconded by The Hon Jane Agaard

Shirley is an amazing person of high integrity and boundless compassion. Shirley's love for Aboriginal people in the NT is strongly reflected in over 50 years of community activities and her many art works.

Shirley has actively worked with Aboriginal people throughout the Territory together with her husband the late Reverend Jim Dowling AM for around 60 years. Wherever Shirley lives, she has actively supported the community and its needs. In Darwin, Shirley has been on the Management team of the Uniting Church Op Shop since its inception in 2011. Shirley frequently inspires volunteers and is always helping to care for people in need.

Shirley applied her artistic skills to design unique donation bins, developing the Op Shop manual, deconstructing and re-designing floor plans to accommodate the ever-growing Op Shop.

Shirley is also a talented artist, winning many awards for her beautiful works, which include outstanding portraits and landscapes. The most noted piece of art, a very large landscape, was purchased by Charles Darwin University.

Shirley, at 87, continues to donate her time to various volunteer projects and is highly valued by those who work with her. She epitomizes someone who leads by example and her gentle wisdom is sought by many.

ine is one of the many volunteers responsible for the ongoing running of this much needed community shop.