50 years of service
The recognition of service milestones initiative aims to formally recognise and reward employees for the years of service they have provided to the Northern Territory Government. Employees who have reached their 50+ years of service milestone, will be invited to attend the prestigious awards night to celebrate their long service to the Northern Territory.
- 2024 - Dana Dabrowska
- 2024 - Douglas Geddes
- 2024 - Basil Damaso
- 2023 - Bob Creek
- 2023 - Lyndell de la Cruz
- 2023 - Robert McFarlane
- 2022 - Dr Lorna Melville
- 2022 - Donald Peters
- 2022 - Donna Hurst
- 2021 - Ben Beumer
- 2021 - Neville Muggeridge
- 2020 - Ronald Assan
- 2020 - Alex Bakunowicz
2024
Dana Dabrowska
Dana Dabrowska migrated to Australia in 1950. Unable to speak English when she started school, Dana attended night classes and worked hard to graduate. Her passion for nursing began when she was 12 after her father had an accident and frequently had to visit hospital.
In 1965, Dana moved to Darwin, working as a Registered Nurse in the Infant Health clinics. Over the years, Dana career evolved as she moved from Clinical Manager, and then becoming Director of Nursing for Remote Health.
Dana's work in remote communities and her dedication to improving health services, particularly alongside Aboriginal Health Workers, has left a lasting impact.
Douglas Geddes
Douglas Geddes began his career as an electrician at the age of 17 with the Commonwealth Government in 1974.
His early exposure to remote communities was thanks to his dad working with the Commonwealth stores, which started a lifelong passion for essential services.
From working at Aboriginal Essential Services in the 1980s to leading Indigenous power station training, Doug’s career has spanned multiple agencies, including health, education, and infrastructure.
Before retiring in June this year, Douglas worked as part of the Homelands Services Group across 400 remote outstations to support local Aboriginal Service Providers.
2023 - Bob Creek
Department of Corporate and Digital Development
Bob came to Darwin from Adelaide as part of a work gang painting lines on the Stuart Highway. He made Darwin his home and joined the public service in 1973 as a trainee draftsman. So began a long and rich career in public service.
Bob’s achievements in information technology are the subject of legend – from taking mapping off paper to spatial technology, from implementing major IT systems through to leading the NT Government’s first foray into IT outsourcing more than 20 years ago, Bob has done it all.
Bob is respected and revered across all levels of government as our elder statesman of IT and someone who has delivered results for the Territory over 5 decades.
2023 - Lyndell de la Cruz
NT Health
In 1968 Lyndell started working at Darwin Hospital when it was located at Myilly Point. She started her career in TB control as an administration officer, later working across medical records, finance, X-ray, nursing admin, the psychiatric day centre, admissions, theatre scheduling and as the face of the emergency department.
In 2018, Lyndell was seconded to Palmerston Regional Hospital to set up its admin systems.
Over 5 decades, Lyndell has been an invaluable asset in advancing medical administration practices, improving patient outcomes and nurturing a culture of excellence in the healthcare system. Her expertise, compassion and unwavering commitment to patient care has touched countless lives in our community.
2023 - Robert McFarlane
NT Health
Robert started in the Darwin Commonwealth Health Laboratory in 1972. Apart from 2 years at the University of Western Australia, he’s been a scientist in the Commonwealth and NT Pathology service ever since. As Network Supervising Scientist, Chemical Pathology, Robert oversees 6 NT pathology laboratories.
He was on duty the night of Cyclone Tracy, and when an asbestos scare shut down the Alice Springs laboratory in 2017, Robert was part of the ‘tiger team’ that rebuilt it from scratch.
Robert’s valuable contributions to developing chemical pathology over the decades has helped Territory Pathology laboratories deliver a service of the highest technological and professional standard.
2022 - Dr Lorna Melville
Department of Industry, Tourism and Trade
Dr Lorna Melville was the principal veterinary virologist and officer in charge of the Berrimah Veterinary Laboratory.
She started her career in the Territory in 1971 after graduating from Sydney University and was thrust into ‘BTEC’ – the Brucellosis and Tuberculosis Eradication Campaign.
Lorna later moved from the field into the laboratory to work in pathology and virology.
When bluetongue virus was detected in the late 1970s and the A.L. Rose Virology Laboratory was built, Lorna dedicated her life’s work to veterinary virology.
Lorna worked in the successful national Arbovirus monitoring program and gave essential diagnostic and research support to the developing crocodile farming industry. She was also involved in numerous offshore projects, including her significant long-term commitment to veterinary services in Timor-Leste.
In 2009, Lorna was awarded a Member of the Order of Australia for services to veterinary science. She received a Public Service Medal in 2014 and a Chief Minister’s Medal in 2013.
2022 - Donald Peters
Department of Infrastructure, Planning and Logistics
Don Peters has worked with the department for an incredible 51 years.
He started with the Commonwealth Government in 1970 with the Allied Works Camp in construction and maintenance, where he worked on defence bases and the Frances Bay bomb dump area.
After self-government in 1978, Don joined the newly created NT Government Transport and Works department, where he helped create the northern suburbs as contract observer for the subdivision works.
Don later moved to public works, where he was involved in developing services in Aboriginal communities like roads, barge landings, sewerage ponds and aerodromes.
Don has worked on many significant projects across the Territory, including construction of major river bridges, Ayers Rock Road and on many road upgrades.
Don has a wealth of knowledge and regularly provides valuable advice and support to his fellow project managers in the department.
2022 - Donna Hurst
Department of Corporate and Digital Development
Donna Hurst started in the public service in 1968 as a telex operator for Commonwealth Railways.
In her 50 years of public service, Donna has worked in Railways, the Housing Commission, Payroll, Museum and Art Gallery of the NT, Transport and Works, Attorney-General’s, DCIS, Health and Families, Business and Employment, and, finally, the Department of Corporate and Digital Development.
One of her significant achievements was managing the transfer and merger of 40 pay teams from across the NT Government into one agency to create what we now call ‘Payroll’.
She also developed operating procedures for the administration of Executive Contract Officers; created the ‘Lunchtime Learning’ program; and developed and delivered training for merit selection, performance management and exit interviews.
Donna has dedicated her career to the public service and to improving human resources.
Today you will still find Donna at Manunda Place working in Workforce Services.
2021 - Ben Beumer
Department of Industry, Tourism and Trade
On 5 March, the Agriculture, Fisheries and Defence division farewelled Ben Beumer after a remarkable 50 years with the agency.
Ben started as an animal attendant at Beatrice Hill Farm in December 1970, where he was involved in all aspects of running the property.
He later grew rice in trials at Coastal Plains Research Station in 1978 and 1979 before acting as manager of Douglas Daly Research Farm. Ben transferred to the Pastures section as a technical assistant the early 1980s, where he ensured successful pasture research trials for more than 10 years.
Ben worked up to the senior technical officer role before becoming the Marrakai extension officer in 1996, providing advice on pastures and floodplain management.
From the 2000s, Ben continued working to improve the productivity of Top End properties.
2021 - Neville Muggeridge
Department of Infrastructure, Planning and Logistics
Neville Muggeridge retired on 29 January with 50 years NTG service to the day.
Neville started with the Northern Territory Reserves Board at Howard Springs in 1971. He went on to work across many Top End parks and reserves, from Casuarina Coastal Reserve, Berry Springs and Howard Springs to Elsey, Gregory and Keep River national parks in the VRD.
In 2005, Neville made a career change from Parks and Wildlife and became a civil technical officer for the department. His transition to a ‘roadie’ in 2005 with his 30 years of experience in the Territory was a big bonus to the region, and he was well known for his ability and passion in driving the vast Katherine network.
Neville won’t be bored during his retirement: he loves his garden and woodwork and making wooden creations in his side hobby, ‘Katherine Toys’.
2020 - Ronald Assan
Department of Infrastructure, Planning and Logistics
Ronald Assan started with the Commonwealth Department of Works and Road Maintenance in Darwin in 1967. After two years of compulsory national service from 1968, he returned to Darwin and the same department in 1971.
After Cyclone Tracy hit in 1974, Ronald spent the next 12 months repairing Darwin’s roads, defence bases and the city.
Fast forward through self-government and a few changes in location and name, and Ronald is still with the department today. He’s responsible for maintaining 12 remote airstrips, barge landings and 700 kilometres of remote access road.
Ronald has enjoyed his long tenure and looks forward to retiring in 2022.
2020 - Alex Bakunowicz
Department of Infrastructure, Planning and Logistics
Alex Bakunowicz arrived in the Northern Territory in May 1979. He came from Melbourne, where he was a cadet surveyor with the Victorian Department of Administration.
He joined the government here as a chainman and quickly progressed to a fully-fledged licensed surveyor, sitting on the Surveyors Board of the NT from 2012 to 2016. Alex is still a senior surveyor with the Northern Territory Government today.
Alex reflects fondly on his illustrious career with the NTPS, where he’s worked on many of its major projects, such as the Adelaide to Darwin Railway, gas and electricity long-line surveys and the birth of Palmerston.
