Neville Perkins facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Neville Perkins
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| Member of the Northern Territory Parliament for the Electoral division of MacDonnell |
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| In office 1977–1981 |
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| Preceded by | Dave Pollock |
| Personal details | |
| Born | 4 January 1952 Alice Springs |
| Political party | Labor Party |
| Relations | Charlie Perkins, Hetty Perkins |
| Education | Newington College University of Sydney |
Neville George Perkins, born on January 4, 1952, is an important Australian leader. He has worked as a politician and a public servant. He also received an award called the Order of Australia (OAM) for his great work.
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Growing Up: Neville Perkins' Early Life
Neville Perkins comes from a very important family. His grandmother was Hetty Perkins, a respected elder of the Eastern Arrernte people. He is also the nephew of Charlie Perkins, a famous Aboriginal rights leader.
Neville was born in Mbantua, which is now known as Alice Springs. He is connected to both the Eastern and Central Arrernte peoples.
He went to school at Newington College from 1963 to 1969. He started in the preparatory school, Wyvern House. Later, he studied at the University of Sydney.
Neville Perkins' Career and Achievements
| Years | Term | Electoral division | Party | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1977–1980 | 2nd | MacDonnell | Australian Labor Party | |
| 1980–1981 | 3rd | MacDonnell | Australian Labor Party | |
Neville Perkins was a member of the Northern Territory Legislative Assembly. He represented the area of MacDonnell for the Labor Party. He served from 1977 to 1981.
He made history as the first Indigenous Australian to hold a "shadow ministry" in an Australian parliament. A shadow ministry is a group of opposition politicians who watch over government departments. He also became the Labor Party's deputy leader.
Perkins left his role in parliament in 1981. After that, he worked as the Secretary for the New South Wales Department of Aboriginal Affairs from 1987 to 1988.
Helping Aboriginal Communities
In 1973, Neville Perkins helped start the Central Australian Aboriginal Congress (CAAC). He was also its first general secretary. This group helps Aboriginal people in Central Australia.
Around the same time, he and others created the Central Australian Aboriginal Legal Aid Service (CAALAS). This service provides legal help to Aboriginal people. It later joined with other services to form the North Australian Aboriginal Justice Agency.
Neville Perkins was also the first Aboriginal general manager of Aboriginal Hostels Limited. This company provides safe places for Aboriginal people to stay. He was also the first Aboriginal general manager of Imparja Television Pty Ltd, a TV station.
He is a Fellow of the Australian Institute of Management. This means he is recognized for his skills in leadership and management. After working at Imparja, he directed the Aboriginal Education Program at the University of New South Wales. He has also worked at National Indigenous Television (NITV).
Awards and Recognition
- He received the Medal of the Order of Australia (OAM) on January 26, 1984. This award was given for his important service to Aboriginal welfare.
