City of Darwin is pleased to announce the winners of the annual Lord Mayoral Awards, which recognise people with a disability who make workplaces, community groups and friendship groups great places to be.
The award winners were announced at DiversAbility Fun Day, a free celebration on International Day of People with Disability, held today, Tuesday 3 December 2024.
Richard Crookes, a passionate advocate who has dedicated their 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.
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.
Lord Mayor Kon Vatskalis praised the two worthy winners of this year's awards, which are now in their sixth year.
"I would like to personally congratulate Richard and Tristian, not just for their award wins, but for their unwavering dedication to supporting people with disabilities in our community," Mr. Vatskalis said.
"These awards were established to honour individuals with disabilities who have made exceptional contributions to the Darwin community, and Richard and Tristian exemplify this to the fullest.
"We were truly impressed by the quality of nominations this year. I'd like to thank everyone who submitted a nomination and extend my congratulations to all nominees for their remarkable efforts in our community," he said.
Winners of each category received a cash prize from a local disability organisation, a trophy and invitations to City of Darwin functions throughout the year.
