Diane Shanahan

In 1977, Di, with two sons, arrived at Milingimbi, to teach at the Milingimbi School it was one of the first to run a bilingual program. She was elected by the staff as their Northern Territory Teacher’s Federation representative, a role which saw her visiting China in 1977-78. Di transferred to Alice Springs when her oldest son reached high school in 1979 she began teaching at the Alice Springs High School. In 1980, Di took on a TAFE appointment as Aboriginal adult education officer she was involved in driver education, art and craft projects covering the Alice Springs, Amoonguna and Jay Creek districts and worked with the forerunner of the of the Central Australian Aboriginal Media Association (CAAMA); the Aboriginal half hour on 8HA. Di was one of three women in 1984 elected to the Alice Springs Town Council where she worked on committees until she was required to resign in 1987 under the terms of the Self Government Act, to stand in the Legislative Assembly general election she twice stood unsuccessfully for Araluen as the ALP candidate. In 1985, Di was appointed the regional coordinator of the Women’s Information Centre a position she held until 1988. In 1986 she took on the presidency of the Family Planning Association (FPA) been involved with the Australian Local Government Women’s Association and the Eastside Neighbourhood Centre and in 1988 was a board member of the YWCA and YMCA. Di was chairperson of the Alice Springs Town Council and appointed on the waste recycling advisory committee. Source: Northern Territory Women’s Register 1948-1988. 2nd ed. Darwin: Northern Territory Women’s Advisory Council. 1991. p. 109-110. ; Educator ; Politics