Tammy has established herself as a revolutionary force when it comes to education, learning, and reconciliation through creativity, games, and play.

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She creates a space for their ideas, influences, and personal and professional development in safe and meaningful ways. In alignment with Red Dust's values, Tammy is strength-based, positive, playful, and constantly curious.

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Tammy consistently centres and advocates for the voices of community. She never fails to honour and recognise the influence and role that Elders and women play in both her life and community affairs.

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As a woman who celebrates diverse heritage spanning across Iwaidja/Murran, Tiwi, Kungarakan, Warumungu, Torres Strait, and Aussie/English ancestry, Tammy is a champion of inclusivity. Through Red Dust's close collaboration with Tammy, we have witnessed how her lived experiences of diversity shape her interactions with everyday complexities and those around her. She incorporates these experiences into playful and exploratory processes, touching on difficult and complex topics, such as the impacts of history, healthy lifestyles at home, workplace inclusivity, and female leadership.

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For over a decade, Red Dust has had the privilege of working with Tammy and her partner Shane Tipuamantamerri (Tippa). In 2013, they co-founded Mamanta, a First Nations enterprise focused on project consultation, reconciliation, cross-cultural learning and action, and community empowerment, among other initiatives. Our partnership with Mamanta has had a profound impact on Red Dust's work, not only on the Tiwi Islands but also in ongoing internal development and our organisation's work in other communities in the Northern Territory, with which Tammy and Tippa hold strong connections.

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Finally, we asked Tammy about a woman she looks up to and here was her response: “There are so many positive women in my life, my mum, daughters, nieces, cousins,  besties... And this amazing woman is Calista Kantilla, one of my many beautiful mothers in law. She is an incredibly intelligent knowledge holder, language and cultural preservationist. She has a strong sense of family and values. She is wise, generous and hilarious! And she is about 86. I love her deeply!”

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We wish to celebrate, thank, acknowledge and honour Tammy, a strong First Nations woman, business owner, Red Dust partner, creative pioneer, mother, daughter, sister and friend to many.

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We encourage all of you to check out incredible work they do by visting their website: Mamanta Pty Ltd.

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With your support, we can continue to empower young people, providing them with opportunities to learn from their Elders on-Country.