Nova Peris facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Nova Peris OAM
Peris in 2012
9th Chair of the Australian Republic Movement
In office 13 March 2023 – 10 July 2024 Serving with Craig Foster
Succeeded by	Esther Anatolitis Nathan Hansford
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 athlete and a former politician. She made history as the first Aboriginal Australian to win an Olympic gold medal. This happened when she was part of the Australian women's field hockey team at the 1996 Olympic Games.

After her success in hockey, she 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 the 2013 Australian federal election. She served as a Senator until 2016.

Early Life and Education

Nova Peris was born in Darwin, Northern Territory, Australia. Her mother, Joan, was part of the Stolen Generations. This means she was taken from her own mother and raised in a Catholic mission.

Nova grew up in Fannie Bay, Northern Territory. Her family has roots with the Gija people, Yawuru people, and Muran Clan of the Iwatja people. Nova loved sports from a young age. She often skipped school because she was so interested in sports. At 13, she was chosen for the national schoolgirl hockey team.

Sporting Achievements

Nova Peris's Gold Medal from the 1996 Atlanta Olympics

Nova Peris joined the Australian Women's Hockey Team in 1992. 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 her the first Aboriginal Australian to 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. In 1997, she was also named Young Australian of the Year.

Nova continued to represent Australia in athletics. She ran in the 200 meters at the 1999 World Athletics Championships. At the Sydney Olympics in 2000, she ran in the 400 meters. She reached the Olympic 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 her Olympic items to the National Museum of Australia. This collection included her gold medal, hockey stick, Sydney Olympic torch, and her running shoes.

Political Career

Nova Peris with Governor General Quentin Bryce in 2012

On 22 January 2013, the Australian Prime Minister Julia Gillard invited Nova Peris to join the Australian Labor Party. She was asked to 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 Indigenous woman in federal parliament.

On 7 September 2013, Nova Peris made history. She became Australia's first Indigenous woman elected to federal parliament. When she gave her first speech in parliament on 12 November, she spoke about the apology to the Stolen Generations.

Nova Peris announced on 24 May 2016 that she would not run for her Senate seat again. Her term as Senator ended on 9 May 2016.

Life After Politics

Even after leaving parliament, Nova Peris has stayed 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 called for reparations for Indigenous Australians.

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

Peris has been a big supporter of the Australian Republic Movement (ARM) since 1999. She was a co-chair of the movement starting in March 2023. However, she resigned from this role in May 2024. She explained that she felt it was difficult to continue while another co-chair was making "divisive public statements." Nova Peris has spoken out against antisemitism and supports the Australian Jewish Community.

In 2019, Nova Peris competed in the sixth season of Australian Survivor. She was eliminated on Day 10.

Personal Life

Nova Peris married Scott Appleton in 2012. She was previously married to Daniel Batman, with whom she had two children. Before that, she was married to Sean Kneebone, and they had one child. She became a grandmother at 40. Her son Jack is a footballer for the Essendon Football Club.

Nova considers herself a Christian. She also has an active interest in Australian spirituality.

Recognition

• 1996 – Gold Medal, Women's Hockey, Atlanta 1996 Summer Olympics
• 1997 – Medal of the Order of Australia
• 2001 – Victorian Honour Roll of Women
• 2019 – "Lifetime Achievement" Dreamtime Awards
• 2023 – Sport Australia Hall of Fame inductee

See also

In Spanish: Nova Peris para niños

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