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6 September, 2024

Outback event honours Indigenous stockmen

Frankie Shadforth was chosen as the face of the award due to his legacy at Seven Emu Station.

By North West Weekly

Burke Shire mayor Ernie Camp with Frankie Shadforth from Seven Emu Station.
Burke Shire mayor Ernie Camp with Frankie Shadforth from Seven Emu Station.

The Indigenous stockmen of the Gulf of Carpentaria have been honoured at the biannual Order of the Outback Ball, hosted by Burke Shire Council.

Mayor Ernie Camp presented the gong to Frankie Shadforth as a gesture to recognise his efforts on Seven Emu Station, as well as all First Nations men and women working on the land.

Mr Shadforth, a proud Garawa man, learnt plenty of good habits from his father Willie.

Mayor Camp said he had transformed Seven Emu Station into a thriving enterprise, raising cattle, mentoring troubled youth and developing a popular tourism destination into a must-visit destination that provides an authentic Outback experience.

People come from far and wide to visit the property, located on the Savannah Way in the Gulf of Carpentaria in the Northern Territory.

“Winning the award was one of the best things to happen to me and it was a privilege,” Mr Shadforth said.

“We show kids that there is more to life than just running around town, breaking things and misbehaving,” he said.

“I do it because I love to see the results of kids coming through.

“It was something I wanted to do a lot because my father and brothers taught me a lot when I was growing up.”

Mr Shadforth said his latest campaign was to save the bees.

“The biggest problem we have here is the native bees,” he said.

“No one looks after them. We’re losing the male native bees and that’s why the bats are in town.”

Around 160 people attended the Order of the Outback Ball, which helped lift community spirits in Burketown after two years of challenging floods and clean-up work.

The ball embraced a Starry Night theme, transforming the hall into a dazzling visual spectacle of twinkling lights and shimmering stars.

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