A highlight of the NTCA Conference will be the announcement of the 2020 Alward Foster Memorial - Emerging Indigenous Pastoral Leader Award recipient.
The award shines a light on Indigenous stockpeople who best reflect the attributes of the Indigenous pioneers of the NT pastoral sector.
Brunette Downs Station AACo, senior operation manager Rick Morrison nominated Alec Bidwee, who he said has a no worries attitude that is infectious in the best way.
"Alec has a sense of humour that calms cultural differences which arise in a modern stock camps' multi-cultural environment, he's a proud Indigenous man and a mentor to young men and women from his community, making him an emerging leader there and on the station," Mr Morrison said.
Victoria River Downs Heytesbury Cattle Company station managers Rusty and Julie Richter, nominated Ainsley Anzac, who they said has demonstrated excellent leadership skills within his community, and in the wider employment team.
"Ainsley joined us in July 2012 at Pigeon Hole Station. He has gathered many skills during this time and is considered a very capable station hand among his peers and employers," they said.
Leroy Daly, was nominated by Tipperary Group of Stations general manager David Connolly, who said the younger or less experienced staff are drawn to Mr Daly.
"He always makes time to show others how a task can be performed in a better way. He works hard at being the best that he can be in any given role and he's proud to represent his station, his family and his people in doing work that the pioneering stockmen came to be recognised for," Mr Connolly said.
The nominees have to be participating in the Pastoral Real Jobs Program (run by the NTCA and the Indigenous Land and Sea Corporation), Indigenous males or females (under the age of 35), and currently employed in the pastoral sector.
The Warriner family is again sponsoring the award, for which the award recipient will receive a custom-made saddle from The Top Saddlery & Bush Boutique.
