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Article: The Northern Territory's first Long Service Medal.
- Article from:
- Sabretache
- Article date:
- December 1, 2003
- Author:
CopyrightCOPYRIGHT 2003 Military Historical Society of Australia. This material is published under license from the publisher through the Gale Group, Farmington Hills, Michigan. All inquiries regarding rights should be directed to the Gale Group. (Hide copyright information)
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Dick Butler was a prominent Northern Territory sportsman and was, for some 18 years, Head Gardener at Government House in Darwin. His life encompassed almost every aspect of Top End history, from Kahlin Compound to the Bombing of Darwin and Cyclone Tracy. In addition, he was a soldier for 23 years, with the unique distinction of being the first to cam the Long Service and Good Conduct Medal for service performed solely in the Northern Territory.
Dick Butler was born in Katherine in 1908 to a Wugularri/Jawoyn Aboriginal and a European father, George Butler. With his two brothers, Ta-Digin and Merengbet, like so many of their era, Dick was taken away and brought to ...