We are honoured to announce this year’s recipients of the NATSICC Service to Community Elder Awards — three inspiring Elders whose lifelong service continues to strengthen faith, culture, and community.

Aunty Mary Atkinson

A proud Wiradjuri Ngunnawal woman and devoted member of the Catholic community, Aunty Mary has dedicated more than 40 years to education, cultural leadership, and spiritual support. Deeply embedded in Catholic schools, parishes, and parent groups across the Riverina and Canberra, she has walked gently alongside countless people—sharing wisdom, guiding the next generation, and planting seeds of faith. Through her advocacy for Aboriginal voices in Catholic spaces, she has helped bring cultural understanding and Gospel values into beautiful harmony.

Aunty Lorraine Tomlinson

For over two decades, Aunty Lorraine has served as Chair of the St Martin De Porres Catholic Aboriginal Community in Darwin. She is a woman of quiet strength and deep faith, ministering through times of grief, walking with families through funerals, and supporting Aboriginal youth and elders across the Northern Territory. Her leadership on Church councils and boards, and her willingness to advise religious orders, reflect her lifelong mission—to help all people grow in faith and experience the healing love of Jesus.

Uncle Eric Law AM

A Wakka Wakka Elder, Vietnam veteran, and passionate educator, Uncle Eric is a leading voice for truth-telling and reconciliation. Shaped by his Catholic upbringing in Cherbourg under the harsh restrictions of the Protection Act, Uncle Eric brings humility, humour, and hope to his storytelling. As Chair of the Elders Advisory Group and a leader at the Ration Shed Museum, he mentors emerging Elders and advocates for Indigenous veterans. His conversations with Catholic leaders, including Archbishop Mark Coleridge, highlight his belief that reconciliation is a journey we must walk together—with faith, honesty, and determination to shape a better future.

We give thanks for these three extraordinary Elders, whose lives are a blessing to the Church and the wider community.

Sarina Cannon – Adult Service to Community Award

A proud and faith-filled member of the St Michael’s Catholic School community on Palm Island, Sarina Cannon has served with love, consistency, and deep care as a Support Officer across many year levels. Currently supporting Year 2 students, Sarina brings to her role a lived Catholic faith—expressed daily through gentle encouragement, practical support, and relationships built on trust and compassion.

Sarina is a steady presence: dependable, intuitive, and deeply respected within the school community. Her ability to read the classroom, offer help before it’s asked for, and form nurturing bonds with every student makes her a quiet but powerful force of good. Children know they can rely on her, and colleagues often look to her as the heart of the classroom.

Beyond her professional strengths, Sarina brings cultural knowledge, humour, and joy into the school each day—strengthening the connection between students’ home lives and their learning environment. Through her humility and grace, she models the Gospel in action and has become a pillar of faith and warmth for her school community.

Congratulations, Sarina, and thank you for all that you do.

Sr Ceclilia Prest and Lee Toll – Non Indigenous Award winners

Sr Cecilia Prest (Prestashewsky) MFIC

Living in the Woorabinda community since 2002, Sr Cecilia has been a steady, compassionate presence. Her ministry touches all parts of life—visiting the sick, comforting the grieving, leading liturgies, running an op-shop, and simply being a listening ear for those in need. Guided by a mission to be “a presence,” she embodies reconciliation, healing, and accompaniment. Her humility and gentle spirit have built trust with the community, and her home has become a place of welcome, solace, and hope. Through Sr Cecilia’s efforts, Woorabinda’s story has reached the wider Church, drawing support and fostering deeper connection.

We are deeply grateful for the unwavering support and Gospel-centred witness of both Lee and Sr Cecilia. Their work reminds us that true reconciliation is built on relationships, presence, and shared faith.

Lee Toll

For over a decade, Lee Toll has fearlessly led the Binnap Partners as Chair, supporting Aboriginal Catholic Ministry Victoria (ACMV) with deep commitment and creativity. Lee has been the supportive force behind beautiful, inclusive liturgies that celebrate both Catholic faith and Aboriginal spirituality. In times when Aboriginal leadership has been unavailable, she has stepped up—organising NAIDOC Masses, fostering community, and ensuring the Ministry’s vision continues to thrive. Her passion and presence have made her a pillar of strength not just for ACMV, but for the broader Catholic community.

Previous Award winners:   2018     |     2019     |      2021     |     2022     |     2024