Senior Australian of the Year Sr. Anne Gardiner invited to Rome to speak.

The Australian Government is delighted that Sr. Anne should have the opportunity to communicate the stories of the Tiwi to Vatican in Rome.

Invited as a guest of the Australian Embassies to the Holy See and Italy, Sr. Anne Gardiner spoke "Mentoring Indigenous women into positions of leadership:

Sr Annes speech reflected on her life's work with the Tiwi people.

Sr. Anne, who is 86 years old, said it was an extreme honour to speak at this event and to be able to visit the Vatican.

"I am very humbled, this invitation was quite unexpected. I know this opportunity would not have been extended to me had I not been working with the Tiwi people."

"The Senior Australian of 2017 Award does not belong to me alone. It belongs to my Sisters who have worked in the Northern Territory for over one hundred years ministering to the remote Indigenous people."

On receiving the Senior Australian of the Year Award, Sr. Anne said that she "accepted it on behalf of the Tiwi people, who have allowed me to stay and work with them. I like to think this Award has alerted the wider community to religious women and has opened the gateway to the Tiwi Islands a little further."

"What I have learned over many years working with the Tiwi is that LISTENING to them is essential, communication is the key."

"It is time to stop talking about closing the GAP and start talking about 'building bridges' as it is not as simple as putting in a few stitches to close the gap. There are Indigenous ways of teaching and there are Western ways of teaching. There are Indigenous ways of healing and there are Western ways of healing."

"What might the potential be if there is a two-way bridge across that river? One where people's language and culture is safe while they have access and understanding of the Western English-speaking one as well? Our response could be to change our thinking; to realise that we are not communicating in the right way, and to work with the people to build that two-way bridge for those who don't have the support to become swimmers."

While in Rome, Sr. Anne had the opportunity to attend a Papal Audience, attend the philanthropic Götz Foundation's Voices of Faith celebration of International Women's Day, and meet members of her international congregations.

Sr. Anne stayed at Domus Australia, officially opened by Pope Benedict XVI in 2011, and has a suite of rooms named after her in recognition of the invaluable contribution she has made to her community.

Before leaving for Rome Sr. Anne said, "I go to Rome as a Daughter of Our Lady of the Sacred Heart (OLSH) who has had the privilege to be a Territorian for 64 years, and I thank our country for this extraordinary honour. I hope I can keep a twinkle in my wrinkle as I see Rome at its best."

Sr. Anne and the Australia Day Council of the Northern Territory would like to thank the Australian Embassies to the Holy See and Italy for their kind invitation; the Australia Catholic University; the Catholic Church, and a number of community organisations and private supporters who contributed towards this tour.

Taken from a Media Release issued by the Australia Day Council of the Northern Territory

Photographs by Kiya Gill