DR MICHAEL HOLLAND
MEMBER FOR BEGA

PATRICIA ELLIS RECOGNISED FOR HER CONTRIBUTION TO THE SOUTH COAST COMMUNITY

Congratulations to Ms Patricia Ellis OAM who is being celebrated with a Local Woman of the Year Award in recognition of the significant contribution she has given to the South Coast community.
 
Member for Bega, Dr Michael Holland congratulated Ms Ellis on the honour today at an International Women's Day event, acknowledging her hard work for the region in education and indigenous advocacy.
 
“Trish has and continues to make a tremendous contribution to the Bega electorate and beyond, with an unflagging passion to make our communities a better place,” Dr Holland said.
 
Ms Ellis is a Brinja Yuin Elder and knowledge holder who has been teaching in the area for 38 years. A particular passion for teaching the local Aboriginal language Dhurga, Ms Ellis has also held a long career at NSW TAFE teaching the cultural perspective of other subjects like conservation, land management and children's studies.

Ms Ellis, along with her siblings Kerry and Waine, together wrote The Dhurga Dictionary and Learners' Grammar, was appointed to the NSW Aboriginal Language Trust Board and was also honoured earlier this year with an Order of Australia Medal for her lifetime of service. 

A special thanks must also go to the Women's Domestic Violence Court Advocacy Services who hosted an afternoon tea in honour of Ms Ellis' award and joined in the company of friends and family. 

"These are the people who I've been working with for some time and I really appreciate our relationships working together," said Ms Ellis on receiving the award.

"I'd like to thank you for all the support you've given me and also for my family being here."
 
The Local Woman of the Year Awards is an annual program that recognises and celebrates the support women give to their local communities throughout NSW.
 
“Women like Ms Ellis are the backbone of our communities, volunteering their time and energy to make a positive difference,” Dr Holland said. 
 
“Today being International Women's Day, I would like to acknowledge our many women who contribute significant efforts to support their local communities and thank them for all the work they do.”
 
The Local Woman of the Year Awards is a way the NSW Government celebrates the achievements of women as part of International Women’s Day on March 8.

8 MARCH 2023

MEDIA: SARAH KERKHAM | 0422011137