8 October 2025
Minister for Lands, Planning and Environment Joshua Burgoyne, today officially announced the late Dr Valerie Asche AM, is the first Territory woman to have a suburb named after her in her own right.
"It was an honour being able to unveil the first suburb in the Northern Territory named after a Territory woman, especially one who has had such an extraordinary impact on the NT health and research sector," said Mr Burgoyne.
"The Asche family has left a lasting legacy in the NT and today we are solidifying that by naming the first suburb in the General Holtze Area Plan after Dr Valerie Asche," he said.
Dr Asche was a respected microbiologist and researcher who published more than 40 papers and lead significant research on Territory-relevant diseases. She was named NT Senior Australian of the year in 2000 and in 2001 she was appointed Member of the Order of Australia for service to science, and to the community of the NT.
Dr Asche passed away in 2019, and the naming of this suburb ensures her legacy, within science, research, and community service, continues to be honoured.
It was wonderful to have Dr Asche's daughter Wendy along with other family and friends for the unveiling of the new suburb along with Dr Asche's dog Freya.
"Our family is deeply moved that others have seen fit to honour our mother by naming a suburb after her. We are grateful for all the work that has gone into this. I'm sure mum would be quietly chuffed," said Wendy.
The naming process followed strict guidelines that ensure suburb names are representative of the NT, while also being unique and respectful.
