E.J Connellan Award 2021 - Senior recipient
James Christian
Connellan Airways Trust Chair, Mr. Mark Coffey has announced James Christian to be the recipient of the 2021 Senior E.J. Connellan Award. James will receive $10,000 over the two years of his degree.
James’ love of the bush flourished after moving to Central Australia in 2012 taking up a position with a remote cattle station, following involvement in a large agricultural company in NSW. Since moving to the region James has been an active participant in local community groups and has worked with several stations in the region.
James is pursuing a Master of Public Leadership and Policy from the University of New South Wales, over the next two years. In his present line of employment as a public servant, James recognises the requirement for clear, concise, and future-proof policy and legislation.
“Studying in this field will enable my participation in such matters to be much more informed both at work and in the community. As a result of my study, I would like to be able to steer the focus of public policy and its development towards supporting the members of remote and outback communities, who are largely under-represented. I am focused on strengthening the ties between bush people and communities and the rest of the country.” Said James.
Mr Coffey said “James has strong connections to the bush and has proven his dedication to the outback which is an important element of the E.J. Connellan Award. As remote and rural Australia undergoes rapid change, the need for advocating for positive development is only increasing. We hope that in supporting James, he will remain in the bush and continue to support the advancement of people in the outback.”
The Award was established in 1988 by the Connellan Airways Trust in honour of the founder, the pioneer Northern Territory aviator and pastoralist, Edward Connellan (known as E.J or Eddie). EJ was man of strong and passionate character, with special abilities attuned to trail blazing. He was a successful pastoralist and a visionary businessman and played a prominent role in Central Australian affairs.
The Connellan Airways Trust has been supporting outback people for nearly forty years through a variety of grants and scholarships. The Connellan Airways Trust’s purpose is to enable the advancement of people in the Outback, with a focus on education and wellbeing
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From the EO Hi everyone, I'm Declan Kelly, the new EO of Connellan Airways Trust. I’ve just wrapped up my first few weeks as Executive Officer at the Trust, and it’s already been a genuinely inspiring start. Earlier this month, I travelled to Alice Springs (Mparntwe) and had the chance to connect directly with some of the people and communities the Trust supports. A highlight was attending the Govies’ Muster and meeting the dedicated teachers, families and students from the Alice Springs School of the Air and the ICPA. Hearing about the creativity and resilience it takes to deliver education across vast distances really brought home why the Trust’s work matters. At the Alice Springs Show, I enjoyed meeting local schools and community groups, many of whom already know Connellan and have received support in the past to bring important projects to life. It was great to see how the Trust’s legacy is woven into the local community in such practical and lasting ways. I also met with the team from Red Dust and learned more about their community driven health and wellbeing programs. And of course, I couldn’t miss experiencing my first Territory Day, a pretty spectacular way to be welcomed, with fireworks lighting up the desert night. Another highlight was catching up with NT Chief Minister, Lia Finocchiaro, to talk about the opportunities and challenges facing remote Australians, and where the Trust can help create even greater impact. All in all, it’s been a warm, generous welcome into the Connellan Airways Trust community, and I’m excited to keep building on the Trust’s proud history. Next up, my first grant round. If you’re working on a project, supporting your local community or just want to chat about what we do, please get in touch via info@connellanairwaystrust.org.au . Looking forward to what’s ahead! Declan General Grants Opening Soon Our next round of General Grants opens 1 August and closes 15 August. These grants support individuals and small community organisations in remote, very remote and select outer regional areas to fund projects, education, travel, technology or local initiatives that reduce isolation and create opportunities. Check out the guidelines and see if you're eligible: connellanairwaystrust.org.au/general-grants Questions? Get in touch at info@connellanairwaystrust.org.au . We look forward to seeing your ideas!
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