Nick Dondas remembered as pioneer and ‘True Territory Icon’ at state memorial service

Nick Dondas, a long-serving Northern Territory person and assemblage leader, was honoured astatine a state memorial work connected Monday astatine Christ Church Cathedral successful Darwin.

Dondas, who passed distant successful September astatine the property of 84, was celebrated for his decades of nationalist work and lasting contributions to the NT.

Representing Casuarina successful the NT Legislative Assembly from 1974 to 1994, Dondas besides served arsenic lawman main curate and aboriginal represented the Northern Territory successful the national House of Representatives from 1996 to 1998.

During his tenure, helium held cardinal portfolios successful health, assemblage development, and transport, playing a vital relation successful shaping the region’s infrastructure and services.

Chief Minister Lia Finocchiaro highlighted his instrumental relation successful advancing higher acquisition successful the NT, peculiarly done the constitution of the Menzies School of Health Research.

“He supported the instauration of a university successful the Northern Territory, shaping the acquisition scenery for generations,” she said.

Known arsenic the “father of Marrara,” Dondas was pivotal successful processing the Marrara sporting precinct, a cornerstone of Darwin’s assemblage life.

His committedness extended to rugby union, where helium was a founding fig successful the NT Rugby Union Committee, helping to found a six-club contention and securing a location for the sport successful Marrara.

Beyond politics, Dondas was profoundly embedded successful Darwin’s Greek community.

Lilliane Gomatis, speaking connected behalf of the Greek Orthodox community, remembered his integral relation successful founding the Rapid Creek Greek schoolhouse and his unwavering beingness astatine the Glenti Festival, where helium volunteered for implicit three decades.

“He was ever there, adjacent astatine the Glenti earlier this year—selling raffle tickets and supporting his community,” Gomatis said.

At the memorial, Dondas’s household shared their tributes to him.

His daughter, Katrina O’Connor, spoke of his emotion for family.

“He truly was a larger-than-life character, and his bequest of work and emotion will unrecorded connected successful our hearts and minds,” she said.

Granddaughters Zara, Anastasia, and Coco O’Connor besides paid tribute, reflecting connected Dondas’s optimistic spirit and his heavy compassion for others.

Nick Dondas leaves down a bequest defined by dedication, resilience, and a profound interaction connected some the Northern Territory and its divers communities.

Watch the afloat video of the ceremonial here: livestream.com/dme/ndmemorial