ONE of the first Territorians ever to win a Pride of Australia award said she encouraged others to nominate those they think deserve to be recognised.
Angela Van Roden was the inaugural recipient of the Courage award in 2006.
The Top End mother has helped to care for her daughters Lizzie and Joanne who suffer from varying degrees of autism.
She has also looked after her husband Pete who was hurt at work and suffered a brain injury.
Ms Van Roden was nominated by her friend Sue Bartlett and said she was honoured to be acknowledged. “I was really overwhelmed,” she said.
“It is a really lovely way of acknowledgment, people do amazing things every day so it’s great they get noticed.”
Ms Van Roden said looking back on the years since her award she has been able to reflect on all her achievements.
While looking after her family she has been able to complete a behavioural science degree and now works as a psychologist at CatholicCare NT. She is now studying to get her masters in clinical psychology.
“Life continues to go on regardless of what we’re faced with.
“Different challenges come and you have to go on, you must focus on what’s happened that’s good.
“I hadn’t seen my actions as a mum and a wife as courageous, (but) we are all courageous in a way.”
“It is a really lovely way of acknowledgment, people do amazing things every day so it’s great they get noticed”
