Board

President: Ruth Quinn

Ruth joined AONT in 2021 after attending a pain management seminar to deal with osteoarthritis (knees and hip) and rheumatoid arthritis (hands). 

Hearing there was a vacancy on the Board, and having had previous experience on not-for-profit boards, most recently with Healthy Living NT, she expressed interest in joining the Board. Ruth was initially appointed President at the September 2022 Board meeting. 

Ruth is a retired librarian and has lived in Darwin for over 40 years.

Vice President: Aminul Islam FCA

Amin is a Commissioner for Oaths and a distinguished Chartered Accountant. He was a partner of Ernst & Young Australia in the late 1990s. Subsequently, he played a pivotal role in establishing a new professional accounting firm in Darwin, Merit Partners.  He also lectured in auditing and accounting at Charles Darwin University in the 1990s.

 Amin was a former President of the Northern Territory Branch of CPA.

In recognition of his contributions to community health, he was awarded the Order of Australia Medal in 2023.

 In 2024, he was honoured as a Companion of Menzies at the Menzies Oration for his significant support and commitment to the Menzies School of Health and Research. 

Amin also dedicates his expertise to various high-profile Boards and Committees on a pro bono basis.

Treasurer and Public Officer: Ruth Garden

Since joining AONT in 1998, Ruth has been involved in a wide range of volunteer activities. She also served as Health Educator. Her interest is in helping people make decisions to improve their own management of their health.

Ruth is currently involved with financial and management issues,as well as running information stands, facilitating self-management information sessions and giving presentations, meeting many current and past members along the way. 

Ruth first joined the Board in 2006.

Secretary: Hilary Fowler

Hilary was a high school science teacher, retiring in 2008. After suffering osteoarthritis in her knees she became involved as a volunteer with AONT, joining the Board in 2010.

As well as assisting in presenting information sessions, she works on newsletters and other publications, and has been very involved in developing the new website.

Lyn Skipper

Lyn is a long-term local, having first come to Darwin in 1969. From 1975, she lived in Jabiru, Malak and Batchelor, and has lived in Humpty Doo for many years. 

Lyn has a long history of community involvement with Humpty Doo events and the Freds Pass and Darwin shows. 

In the early 2000s, Lyn also helped out with AONT’s warm water exercise program in Palmerston.

Helgi Stone

Helgi was supported by AONT a few years and was really glad to find a friendly local group and access some practical advice.

She wants to help AONT develop its services into the future.

Her career background is as a community and hospital pharmacist, and for NT Government in medicines and poisons regulation and policy.

She is now happily retired and enjoying life in the NT.

Frieda Evans

Frieda has lived in Darwin since 1978 and has seen many changes in that time. She decided to join the board as it is an important organisation that provides a unique service. 

In early 2024, Ruth Garden gave a presentation at a meeting of another association she is active with and she joined AONT shortly after. Frieda has also known Ruth Quinn for many years as they were both librarians in their working lives.  

Since retiring, Frieda has volunteered with organisations that align more closely with her personal interests. She is starting to get arthritis so finds the newsletters, workshops and recipes useful. AONT fits in this space.