Nova Peris facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Nova Peris OAM
Peris in 2012
Senator for the Northern Territory
In office 7 September 2013 – 9 May 2016
Preceded by	Trish Crossin
Succeeded by	Malarndirri McCarthy
Personal details
Born	Nova Maree Peris (1971-02-25) 25 February 1971 (age 54) Darwin, Northern Territory, Australia
Political party	Australian Labor Party
Spouses	Sean Kneebone (1995–2001) Daniel Batman (2002–2010) Scott Appleton (2012–present)
Personal information Height 171 centimetres (5 ft 7 in) Medal record Representing  Australia Women's Field Hockey Olympic Games Gold 1996 Atlanta Team Competition World Cup Gold 1994 Dublin Team Competition Champions Trophy Gold 1993 Amstelveen Team Competition Gold 1995 Mar del Plata Team Competition Women's Athletics Commonwealth Games Gold 1998 Kuala Lumpur 200 metres Gold 1998 Kuala Lumpur 4x100m relay Updated on 22 January 2013.

Nova Maree Peris (born 25 February 1971) is an amazing Aboriginal Australian who has been both a top athlete and a politician. She made history at the 1996 Olympic Games as the first Aboriginal Australian to win an Olympic gold medal. She achieved this with the Australian women's field hockey team, known as the Hockeyroos.

After her success in hockey, Nova changed sports to sprinting. She competed in the 1998 Commonwealth Games and the 2000 Olympic Games. Later, she was elected to the Australian Senate in 2013, becoming the first Indigenous woman to serve in Australia's federal parliament. She finished her time in the Senate in 2016.

Early Life and Education

Nova Peris was born in Darwin, Northern Territory. Her mother, Joan, was part of the Stolen Generations. This means Joan was taken from her own mother and raised in a mission on Melville Island. Nova grew up in Fannie Bay with her family. Her family comes from the Gija people and Yawuru people in Western Australia, and the Muran Clan of the Iwatja people in the Northern Territory.

Nova loved sports from a young age. She often skipped school, but her passion for sport kept her going. When she was 13, she was chosen for the national schoolgirl hockey team. This led her to focus on hockey.

Sporting Career Highlights

The Gold Medal of Nova Peris, from the 1996 Olympics in Atlanta

Nova Peris joined the Hockeyroos, the Australian Women’s Hockey Team, in 1992. At this time, she already had a young daughter named Jessica. She played with this very successful team until 1996. That year, they won the gold medal at the Atlanta Olympic Games. This made Nova the first Aboriginal Australian to ever win an Olympic gold medal.

In 1997, Nova decided to try a new sport: athletics. Just one year later, she won two gold medals at the 1998 Commonwealth Games in Kuala Lumpur. She won the 200-meter sprint and was part of Australia's winning 4 × 100 meters relay team. Because of her amazing achievements, Nova was named Young Australian of the Year in 1997.

Nova continued to run for Australia. She competed in the 200 meters at the 1999 World Athletics Championships. At the Sydney Olympics in 2000, she ran the 400 meters. She reached the semi-finals in her individual race. She also ran in the Australian 4 × 400 meters relay team, which finished fifth in the final.

In 2005, Nova sold some of her special Olympic items to the National Museum of Australia. These items included her gold medal, hockey stick, Sydney Olympic torch, and the running shoes she wore.

Political Journey

With Governor General Quentin Bryce, shortly before joining Parliament

On 22 January 2013, the Australian Prime Minister, Julia Gillard, announced that Nova Peris would join the Australian Labor Party. Nova would run as a candidate for the Australian Senate in the Northern Territory. On 29 January 2013, her selection was approved. This meant she was likely to become Australia's first female Indigenous federal politician.

On 7 September 2013, Nova Peris made history. She became Australia's first Indigenous woman elected to the federal parliament. She officially started her role on 12 November. In her first speech to parliament, she spoke about the apology to the stolen generation.

On 24 May 2016, Nova announced she would not run for her Senate seat again. Her term in the Senate ended on 9 May 2016.

Life After Politics

Even after leaving parliament, Nova Peris has continued to be involved in important causes. She supported the 2023 Voice to Paraliament referendum. She believed this reform would help include Indigenous Australians more in national life. In 2023, she also spoke about the need for reparations for Indigenous Australians.

Nova is a strong supporter of education. In 2012, she started the Nova Peris Girls' Academy at St Johns Catholic College in Darwin. She is also an Ambassador for the Australian Indigenous Education Foundation.

Nova has supported the Australian Republic Movement (ARM) since 1999. She became a co-chair of the movement in March 2023. However, in May 2024, she resigned from this role. She explained that she felt a duty as an Aboriginal person to stand against all forms of discrimination. She also said she felt for the Jewish people and everyone affected by the rise of antisemitism.

Nova also appeared on the TV show Australian Survivor. She was eliminated on Day 10 of the competition.

Personal Life

Nova Peris is married to Scott Appleton. They got married in 2012.

Nova has three children: Jessica, Destiny, and Jack. She became a grandmother when she was 40 years old. Her son Jack is a footballer for the Essendon Football Club.

Nova grew up attending a Catholic church and still considers herself a Christian. She also has a strong interest in Australian spirituality.

Recognition

• 2023 – Inducted into the Sport Australia Hall of Fame
• 2019 – Received a "Lifetime Achievement" award at the Dreamtime Awards
• 1996 – Won a Gold Medal in Women's Hockey at the Atlanta 1996 Summer Olympics

See also

• List of Indigenous Australian politicians
• Dual sport and multi-sport Olympians