Sunday Territorian
TRADIE TROUBLES
A veteran Northern Territory builder has spoken out about fears his suburban development will be further delayed by skills shortages and red tape. It comes as Master Builders Australia warns of a nation-wide skills shortage as job vacancies in the...
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CHAIN OF TRAGIC ERRORS
A Territory mother-of-four was exposed to a “catastrophic chain of failures” that claimed her life following what was meant to be a routine surgery in Royal Darwin Hospital.
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SAVING BUBS’ FUTURES
Preterm birth is the leading cause of death and disability in children under five years old globally. That sobering sentence is one Royal Darwin Hospital First Nations obstetrician, Kiarna Brown, and Menzies Allied Health clinician researcher, Jess...
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CHRISTMAS DELIVERY
A Territory family has welcomed their newest member sooner than expected, with bub coming so quick on Christmas Day that he was born in the bathroom at home.
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THE MAD DASH TO Christmas
“Those are some lucky kids,” said a shopper standing by the Casuarina Square Christmas tree as their eyes followed a family rushing by with an entourage of excited children and five trolleys filled with tantalisingly large boxes and gifts. It is a...
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MATT’S BATTLE WITH CANCER
Crocodile wrangler Matt Wright has revealed he was battling testicular cancer during his lengthy court case relating to the chopper crash that killed one of his best mates. Wright had surgery last year and had a testicle ‘ripped out’.
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GENERATION OF CHANGE
The foundation Dolly’s Dream - setup in memory of 14 year-old Territorian Dolly Everitt (pictured above), who took her own life as a result of unrelenting cyberbulling, says Australia’s world leading under-16 social media ban is a step in the right...
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PORT’S DUMMETT
Australia’s most controversial port has been awarded the country’s highest honour at the annual Australian Shipping and Maritime Industry Awards. After months of politican scrutiny and threats of a federal government takeover, the Darwin Port has been...
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BIGGEST SINCE TRACY
Packing destructive category 3 winds, Fina on Saturday intensified into the worst tropical cyclone to hit Darwin since Cyclone Tracy in 1974. Stoic Territorians met Fina’s fury with community spirited defiance. “We’re a tough mob and we come together...
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CHRISTMAS COMES EARLY
Thousands of people packed into the Territory Netball Stadium Marrara on Saturday for the first day of the annual Tactile Arts Christmas Makers Market. The family-friendly event, which grows g in popularity every year, yea boasts more than 150 stalls...
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FOOTY CLUB IN DV PROBE
A Nightcliff Tigers player is under investigation over an alleged attack on a female clubmate outside the club grounds on Thursday. The club reported the alleged incident involving members took place on Oleander St near the home ground. It is alleged...
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LET’S BACK AUSTRALIA
A $100 a week spend on Aussie made products could generate $16b a year and create 40,000 jobs according to new research for a campaign which launches today and is supported by some of Australia’s most iconic businesses.
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NEW PORT PLAYER
A surprise new bidder has emerged for the Darwin Port, as the future of the vital piece of Northern Territory infrastructure remains a political football. It can be revealed a consortium led by a national investment fund, Indigenous Business...
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FAMILY OF FISHOS
It’s been an exciting start to season 11 of Million Dollar Fish with five red-tagged barramundi already delivering the goods for lucky fishos. The season may be only 10 days old but already five fishos have been able to reap the rewards, becoming...
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NEW PLAN HAS MORE STING
A historic year for Hockey NT will take another step next week as discussions for the new Malaysian Hockey season resume, but still the Stingers remain excluded from Hockey One. The Territory is coming off a huge couple of months for the sport...
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HOSPITAL HORROR
A “high-risk” patient and Outback Ringer bull catcher was left to lie on the ground by the entrance to Royal Darwin Hospital for up to seven hours. It came after an urgent transfer to the Northern Territory’s major hospital after his doctor at...
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$31M HEALTH CURE
This new $31m state-of-the-art health training complex at CDU Casuarina has positioned Darwin as a key northern training hub for future health professionals. The Health Centre is equipped with the latest modern technologies and facilities, including a...
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KON BOWS OUT IN STYLE
Peter Styles has officially been elected the City of Darwin’s new Lord Mayor, ending Kon Vatskalis’ long-standing leadership. The result was made official by the NT Electoral Commission about 4am on Saturday after weeks of counting votes. The result...
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WHAT A DREAM
Territory sport fans showed their support when treated to more professional footy action, this time in the form of the Essendon and Richmond AFLW sides in the Dreamtime in Darwin match. The Bombers ultimately came out the winners 6.7 (43) to 3.10 (28)...
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WHEELY GOOD TIME
More than 200 veterans showed their strength, teamwork and resilience in the Top End debut of the Veteran Games. Veterans, current serving members and spectators filed into Robertson Barracks this week to rally behind those taking on the proactive...
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TIGHT RACE, TIGHTER PANTS
Punters flocked to take part in the 2025 Henley on Todd. This year’s event kicked off on Saturday with a parade through the Todd Mall, before hundreds again descended upon the banks of the Todd River. But in a minor hiccup, the navy battleship copped...
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PROUD MOMENT
A Darwin bus art project has become a unique family affair for a young Territory student. Year 8 Haileybury Rendall School student Karen Conway said she was “proud” to see her art showcased on a CDC school bus, which will transport students with...
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GARMA COLOUR AND CULTURE
Anthony Albanese will promise mobile TAFE centres to train Indigenous students in remote communities, with the Prime Minister set to make the announcement when he attends the Garma Festival in remote Arnhem Land this weekend. The $31m commitment,...
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DIRECT HIT FOR MISSILE LAUNCH
The Northern Territory has been part of an Australia-first missile launch that the Australian Defence Force says delivers a significant boost to its long-range strike capability. Defence Industry Minister Pat Conroy and US Secretary of the Army Daniel...
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LOVED AND REMEMBERED
A devoted mother of three is being remembered for always putting her boys first, her love of sports, and the numerous athletic records she set in Alice Springs. Amanda Connor (nee McLean), 35, died on Monday surrounded by family after a short battle...
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Ready SET... RACE
Whether it was the racing action, fashion or the plentiful kid’s activities there was so much to enjoy at the 2025 Chief Minister’s Cup. Known as the family day of the Darwin Cup Carnival the second major race day had plenty for the whole family to...
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RIDE ’EM COWBOY
Territorians were treated to plenty of topnotch rodeo action with an ocean backdrop when the Top End Bull Spectacular took over the Darwin Waterfront. The much-anticipated event featured some of the best bull riders from across the country and an...
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S--T CAR, GOOD CAUSE
Trashed out cars have been put to good use for vital cancer research funding, as hundreds turned out for the ‘2025 Shitbox Rally’ car auction in support of the cause. After more than 500 people left Perth on June 20 to kick off the rally, racers...
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OUR SUPERCARS A CRASHING SUCCESS
It was day of crashes and high speed action as Broc Feeney’s love affair with Hidden Valley continued for the Championship leader, who put on a clinic in Race 18. The Red Bull rider won the Darwin round in 2023 and 2024 and is well on his way toward...
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COLOURS OF RICH CULTURE
Hundreds gathered at the Darwin Waterfront on Saturday for the Northern Territory’s annual Nepal Festival. There was something for everyone down at the festival, with a large selection of food, cultural activities, entertainment and more. Saroj...
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GLENTI FEST KICKS OFF
Lamb, chicken, pork, and, yes, octopus as well, was in plenty of supply as thousands packed the Darwin Esplanade for their Greek food fix. With a view to beat the rush of hungry locals, volunteers got in early to heat up their grills, with car parks...
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JUSTICE FOR EVIE
Evie’s owners thought she’d be safe at a Northern Territory pet sit – three days later their beloved dog was dead. They’re now demanding oversight of the unregulated industry.
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DUDE, WHERE ARE MY WHEELS?
Darwin man Samuel Saalfeld has been forced to find alternative modes of transport after the tyres and rims of his beloved Mazda were pilfered in the dead of night. All he could do was laugh when he walked out to his car on Friday morning and discovered...
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DRESSED TO IMPR ESS
Whether it was celebrating birthdays, catching up with friends from afar or just getting to groove to their favourite bands, visitors flooded in for the 2025 edition of the NT’s biggest music festival. BASSINTHEGRASS took over Mindil Beach for its...
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Now that’s amore
Thousands of Top Enders descended on the Darwin Waterfront on Saturday for the 2025 Darwin Italian Festival and an array of Italian cuisine, music and culture. Crowds milled around the various food vendors and shops, indulging in a wide range of...
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DOWN TO THE WIRE
While Labor incumbent Marion Scrymgour is projected to comfortably retain her seat of Lingiari over the Country Liberal Party’s Lisa Seibert in the federal election, an arm wrestle for Solomon continued late Saturday night. Labor’s Luke Gosling had...
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LIA, GET IT OPEN
The Chief Minister and Assistant Police Commissioner say they have no plans to make the Night cliff Police Station operational, despite a renewed tide of calls from the public after the tragic death of grocer Linford Feick. Meanwhile, changes to the...
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HUGE KAVA BUST
Northern Territory police have swooped in a major operation that has resulted in 121 kilograms of kava being seized near Katherine and five people arrested after they allegedly tried to evade a police roadblock. The kava haul was allegedly bound for...
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SCHOOL FEE PLEA
From Tiwi to Toorak, families choose to send their children to private schools, but some argue that choice is thrust upon them due to concerns of the lack of quality options in the public system, or simply the absence of a second choice altogether....
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GLOBAL EYES ON NT PGA
The NT PGA Championship will make its return to the Challenger PGA Tour and for the first time the event will be televised live across Australia and New Zealand. The Top End’s premier golf event went on hiatus last year as the Palmerston Golf Club...
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‘CHANGED OUR LIVES FOREVER’
The grieving parents of a little girl who died after a devastating incident at a Northern Territory childcare centre have broken their silence, as a coronial inquest into the tragedy ends. A series of recommendations that could have far-farreaching...
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CROC HOTEL ON MARKET
One of the Northern Territory’s most iconic tourist destinations has been put on the market for leasehold, with its leasee and operator selling up after more than 25 years at the helm.
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TAKING OFF FOR KUALA LUMPUR
Territorians have hit the travel jackpot once again, with AirAsia launching a new direct flight service from the Top End capital to Kuala Lumpur, to commence in late June. The route will unlock further destinations including Thailand, Vietnam, the...
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MURPHY’S MARCHING ORDER
The NT’s top cop has been given his marching orders, 48-hours after admitting he was the unnamed bureaucrat at the centre of a ‘job for a mate’ scandal in an anonymised ICAC report. Late on Saturday evening, Chief Minister Lia Finocchiaro issued a...
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STABBING DEATH
Northern Territory major crimes police are investigating a violent incident at an Alawa home resulting in the alleged fatal stabbing of a 33-year-old man, the fourth suspected domestic violence homicide in the Territory in just six weeks.
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HEALTH BOSS SPEAKS OUT
The head of the UN’s health agency has warned that history will not forgive countries if they fail to strike a pandemic treaty by falling at the last hurdle. World Health Organization chief Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus made the comments with progress...
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FRIENDLY FACES
A Darwin-based air force chaplain has become the first woman to be ordained by Queensland Baptists – and she has reaffirmed her aim of helping RAAF members through trying times with the help of her furry friend. In May 2024, after about 80 years of...
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HEART FULL OF HOPE
Politics wasn’t Jacinta Nampijinpa Price’s first career choice. The Territory Senator’s first love was music, and she also dreamt of being a police officer. But a teen pregnancy and other struggles led her to walk the political path instead. The story...
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$150M FOR NEW LOOS
City of Darwin says Darwin’s existing civic centre does not meet building regulations or modern standards, with the Mayor citing “blocked toilets” and “dying air conditioners” as key reasons behind a push for a new $150m building. A community forum in...
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FIREY’S MISSION TO SERVE
Jamie Seib did not always want to become a firefighter; first he was an apprentice in the Northern Territory, then a tradesman in NSW – and now, years later, he is set to be awarded with the nation’s highest fire service honour. “After a few years of...
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NO PATIENTS FOR CENTRE
Despite this West Arnhem community having some of the highest rates of kidney failure in Australia, its new renal facility sits dormant amid a funding crunch and difficulties in returning home faced by locals on dialysis.
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DESPERATE FOR HELP
A young man who waited hours for Northern Territory emergency services to help his suicidal girlfriend chose to light a fire at a remote cop shop in an ‘act of desperation’ to save her life. Jyson Lalara pleaded guilty this week to a single count of...
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TERMINAL DIAGNOSIS
Issues with the Territory’s flagship $259m patient health records system Acacia were flagged by medicos “two to four years” prior to its chaotic introduction into Royal Darwin and Palmerston Hospitals’ emergency departments, but were not resolved. The...
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IT’S ANARCHY
Police Commissioner Michael Murphy has conceded the Big Rivers capital does not have enough police boots on the ground after a violent and chaotic holiday period that saw two more servos subject to aggravated robberies, multiple home invasions and...
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DOCO SHARES IMPACT
Darwin International Airport’s owner has commemorated the looming 50th anniversary of Cyclone Tracy by releasing a short documentary that illuminates the vital role the facility played in evacuating a few thousand shy of an entire city. The 12-minute...
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I’LL BE HOME FOR Christmas
Spending Christmas in hospital was not something Darwin local Mathew Robertson wanted but it saved his life. In 2023, Mr Robertson spent the holiday season bedridden, undergoing and recovering from a bone-marrow transplant after suffering...
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DAD’S NEARDEATH BRUSH WITH TROPICAL DISEASE
A Darwin dad is lucky to be alive after watering the garden left him with amputations and a moniker of “the sickest man in the Northern Territory”. Mark Davis, 59, was tending to his small Stuart Park apartment garden – digging, laying turf and...
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CYCLONE CEREMONY
Hundreds of people have paused to remember the lives lost to Cyclone Tracy, with survivors and descendants gathering to reflect on one of Australia’s darkest days. On Saturday morning, about 200 people attended the City of Darwin’s commemorative...
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FINDING LIFE AFTER DEATH
It is the club that nobody wants to join, but a pair of Territory mothers have found hope after connecting with other bereaved parents through child loss organisation Amber NT. But the vital service is facing ongoing funding challenges.
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ROCK STAR ROLE MODEL
A stellar line-up of inspirational men, including renowned Australian musician DIESEL, celebrated positive male role models in the Darwin community for International Men’s Day. Noone Left Behind hosted the 2024 International Men’s Day Lunch at Darwin...
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ONCE IN A LIFETIME SHOW
Tickets are on sale for a “once in a lifetime show” in the Red Centre – featuring one of Australia’s hottest pop stars performing at one of the premier tourist destinations in the country. On May 19, 2025, Jess Mauboy will play a one-off intimate show...
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TANK FARM FUTURE IN DOUBT
The Top End’s $270m bulk fuels development has been hit with more delays as uncertainty continues to swirl around the troubled project. Questions remain around how commissioning company Crowley will continue with the development.
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PRISON BREAK POINT
overcrowded prison system is on the brink of collapse, with staff threatening to walk due to a massive prisoner shift from the Red Centre to already at capacity Top End facilities. An Alice Springs correctional officer told this masthead a plane has...
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STEALTH IN OUR SKIES
In the aftermath of a US bombing mission on Houthi fighters, the Department of Defence has confirmed the B2 stealth bombers involved in the operation passed through the Top End.
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THE FIGHT OF HIS LIFE
In 2022, Todd McManus appeared to be a picture of health and good fortune, having just won a first grade premiership in Canberra. But, that couldn’t have been further from the truth. The larger than life Territorian and brilliant sportsman was...
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A HERO’S WELCOME
Australian Olympic and Paralympic heroes embraced Darwin fans as they signed autographs and took selfies at Casuarina Shopping Centre on Saturday. In the Top End as part of the Welcome Home Celebrations, Olympic and Paralympic medallists included...
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