Andrew Pearce from Tennant Creek High School was recently selected by the Minister for Education to have his art work titled Conflicted Wings, a mixed media on board hung in Parliament House for the next 12 months following his exhibition in 2008 NT ‘Exit Art’ for Year 12.

Such an honour will generate considerable accolades for this Tennant Creek young person with his work on show for both a national and international audience in addition to putting our town and community ‘out there’ in a creative and positive space.

They say, ‘a picture paints a thousand words’ and Andrew’s one thousand words characterise many outstanding achievements featuring his youth, school education and community involvement and on being an ambassador of good news.

Mona Rennie a celebrated woman of the Barkly started work at Elliott School in February 1977 and retires next month after a distinguished career in Territory education.

Mona started work as a volunteer at Beetaloo School on a cattle station north east of Elliott before commencing as a NT Department of Education Assistant Teacher in town.

Mona Rennie specialised in early childhood education having a passion for making sure the little kids got a good start at school in the important developmental years that set the foundation for their school education.

In recognition of her many years of service and hard work the Elliott Pre School was dedicated and named the ‘Mona Rennie Pre School’ in August 2000 by Senator Grant Tambling.

Mona’s community involvement included local government when first elected as a Councillor on the Elliott District Community Government Council in 1994 and in 2008 was appointed to the Board of the Barkly Shire representing the Yapakurlangu Ward.

In 2001 Mona was awarded the Elliott Australia Day Citizen of the Year and in retirement will remain a celebrated Territorian who focussed on what can be done for the community despite its challenges.

For me Andrew and Mona possess the winning formula representing a positive mind set for what can be achieved no matter what, with the ability for ‘seeing the forest for the trees?’