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Australian of the Year Award
2009 Australian of the Year, Professor Michael Dodson. Image courtesy of the National Australia Day Council.
On Australia Day - 26 January - each year, the Prime Minister of Australia announces the Australian of the Year, Young Australian of the Year, Senior Australian of the Year, and Local Heroes Awards.
Australian of the Year
The Australian of the Year Award is one of the country's most prestigious, open to all Australians regardless of age. It recognises outstanding achievement, and an individual's role in inspiring fellow Australians and contributing to the nation. The first Award was presented in 1960.
The 2009 Australian of the Year is Indigenous leader Professor Michael Dodson. A Yawuru man from the Broome area, the contribution he has made to improving the lives of indigenous Australians is inestimable. He has pursued justice and reconciliation through a process of education, awareness and inclusive dialogue with all Australians. He has served in a variety of challenging and highly sensitive roles at community level, with governments, the United Nations and in academia. In addition he has always actively mentored, nurtured and promoted young Aboriginal leaders, and encouraged respect between people of all cultures.
Previous Australians of the Year include: Nobel Prize winner Sir John Eccles, AC (1963); Australia's first Aboriginal Senator, Neville Bonnor, AO (1979); adventurer and philanthropist Dick Smith (1986); eye surgeon Fred Hollows, AC (1990); artist Arthur Boyd, AC, OBE (1995); Army Chief Lieutenant-General Peter Cosgrove, AC, MC (2001); Professor Fiona Stanley, AC. (2003); Steve Waugh AO (2004); Fiona Wood, AM (2005);Professor Ian Frazer (2006) ); Professor Tim Flannery (2007); and Lee Kernaghan (2008).
Young Australian of the Year
2009 Young Australian of the Year, Jonty Bush. Image courtesy of the National Australia Day Council.
The first Young Australian of the Year Award was announced in 1979. This Award recognises the achievements of young people aged 16 to 24.
The 2009 Young Australian of the Year is Jonty Bush, 29, a victim's support worker. After experiencing tragedy in her own life, she not only managed to keep going but she began to help others deal with their grief by becoming a volunteer with the Queensland Homicide Victim's Support Group. At just 27 she was appointed CEO of the organisation. She has since led the successful push for a review of the laws surrounding murder and manslaughter. She also developed the One Punch Can Kill campaign, which has been adopted by the Queensland Government in an attempt to prevent further tragedies.
Former Young Australians of the Year include: conductor Simone Young (1986); Olympic champions Cathy Freeman (1990), Kieren Perkins, OAM (1992), and Ian Thorpe (2000); medical student James Fitzpatrick (2001); Lleyton Hewitt (2003); Hugh Evans (2004); Khoa Do (2005); Trisha Broadbridge (2006); Tania Major (2007); and Casey Stoner (2008).
Senior Australian of the Year
2009 Senior Australian of the Year, Pat LaManna OAM. Image courtesy of the National Australia Day Council.
The Senior Australian of the Year Award began in 1999. It honours Australians aged 60 years and over who continue to make a significant contribution to the nation.
The winners since 1999 have been: entertainer and songwriter Slim Dusty; humanitarian Professor Freda Briggs; Professor Graeme Clark, AO; Founder and Chairman of the 2002 Year of the Outback Bruce Campbell, MBE; Tehree Gordon, founder of the Jirrahlinga Koala and Wildlife Sanctuary; Antonio Milhinhos, businessman and philanthropist, (2005); Sally Goold OAM (2006); volunteer peer support advocate Phillip Herreen (2007); David Bussau AM (2008); and in 2009, Pat LaManna OAM.
Pat LaManna OAM battled racism and economic adversity during the years after his arrival in Australia from Italy in 1948, but he persevered and became a successful entrepreneur. He has used these skills to give back to countless charities in Australia and the Third World. He has been a member of the Lions Club for 40 years and founded the Lions Club of the Melbourne Markets in 1972 which has become the highest fund raising Lions Club in Australia. Pat also started the Hand-to-Hand Appeal for the Bionic Hands Department at Melbourne's Royal Children's Hospital, raising $198 000, and the Pat LaManna Cancer and Research Stroke Foundation which has raised $1.5 million to date.
Local Heroes
The Local Heroes Award was introduced in 2003. It recognises the outstanding work of local communities, and provides an opportunity for more Australians to be recognised for their dedication to improving the lives of those in their neighbourhood. The first national Local Hero 2003 was Superintendent Brian Parry, AFSM, who was recognised for his long service to firefighting. Other local heroes have been Donna Carson (2004), Ben Kearney (2005), Toni Hoffman (2006), Shanaka Fernando (2007), and Jonathon Welch (2008).
The 2009 Local Hero is Graeme Drew, co-founder of the Bremer Bay SES and involved with the Sea Rescue. He and his boat have always been available in times of need. He has searched for lost or disabled vessels, and retrieved the bodies of those drowned while fishing, donating his time and equipment long after official searches have been called off. Graeme has campaigned for numerous causes. Graeme loves and respects the ocean and wants to ensure that the community are able to safely enjoy it.
Nominations and selection
Anyone can nominate a candidate for the Awards. Nomination forms are available from the Australian of the Year website or by phoning 1300 130 279.
Quotes throughout from The Australian of the Year website.
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Last updated: 30th March 2009
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