The National Australia Day Council announced the 2019 Australian of the Year Awards. Australia Day is celebrated on the 26th January each year, and the awards were presented by the Prime Minister in Canberra on the evening of Friday, January 25, 2019.
There were 33 people vying for the four award titles:
- 2019 Australian of the Year
Since 1960 our nation has celebrated the achievement and contribution of eminent citizens through the Australian of the Year Awards. These leading citizens shape our nation, inspire us, and are role models for us all.
- 2019 Senior Australian of the Year
The Senior Australian of the Year Award recognises those Australians aged 65 and over who continue to achieve and contribute. The award commenced in the International Year of Older Persons in 1999.
- 2019 Young Australian of the Year
The Young Australian of the Year Award recognises those aged 16 to 30 who are outstanding and exceptional young Australians. The Young Australian of the Year has been awarded since 1979.
- 2019 Australia’s Local Hero
The Local Hero Award was introduced into the Australian of the Year Awards in 2003. It acknowledges extraordinary contributions made by Australians in their local community.
National Australia Day Council chief executive Karlie Brand said the national finalists had all reflected the many heart-warming and inspirational stories in our nation. “The Australian of the Year awards allow us to showcase ordinary Australians doing extraordinary things to make a difference in their communities, achieving recognition on a national scale and influencing change for the better,” Ms Brand said. “This year, we had some truly amazing people among our national finalists – some who are household names, some who quietly go about helping others and some who have overcome great challenges. “They were all so very worthy of our admiration and our recognition – they are all great Australians.” The Awards honour an exceptional group of highly-respected Australians who ignite discussion and change on issues of national importance. The nominations from all categories included a large number of Indigenous Australians recognised by their respective states and territories.
The state by state winners, and nominees for Australian of the Year [each state or territory also announced winners in the other three categories] were::
Victoria – The founder of a global health company that ensures millions of disadvantaged people get the medicines they need has been named 2019 Victorian Australian of the Year. Mark Sullivan, of Camberwell, in creating the not-for-profit Medicines Development of Global Health, established a highly effective business model for developing much-needed new medicines.
Western Australia – A cave-diver and retired vet who helped rescue 12 boys and their soccer coach from a flooded cave in Thailand has been named the 2019 Western Australia Australian of the Year. Dr Craig Challen, of Wangara, was about to go on a caving holiday on the Nullarbor Plains in July 2018 when he was called to join the international rescue mission at Chiang Rai in Thailand.
Queensland – Detective and children’s champion, 55-year-old Jon Rouse of Ashgrove, has been named as Queensland’s Australian of the Year. Detective Inspector Rouse has 34 years’ service with Queensland Police.
Australian Capital Territory: Journalist and women’s advocate Virginia Haussegger is the 2019 Australian of the Year for the ACT. For more than 25 years, Ms Haussegger has built a career as a television journalist, writer and commentator. She is also recognised as a leading advocate for women and is a sought-after speaker on women’s rights, gender equality and the media.
South Australia – The 2019 South Australia Australian of the Year is specialist anaesthetist and cave diver, Dr Richard Harris, of Toorak Gardens. In July 2018, Adelaide anaesthetist Dr Richard Harris made worldwide headlines when he joined an international team to rescue a group of 12 boys and their soccer coach from a flooded cave in Chiang Rai, Thailand.
Tasmania – An advocate for teenage parents has been named the 2019 Tasmania Australian of the Year. Bernadette Black, of Blackmans Bay, herself a mother at 16, went on to found the BRAVE Foundation, which supports and represents 8300 expectant and parenting teens each year.
New South Wales – Three-time Paralympic gold medallist Kurt Fearnley has been named the 2019 NSW Australian of the Year. Fearnley, 37, retired from international wheelchair racing this year after a remarkable 20-year career, having proved time and again that disability is no barrier to an indomitable spirit.
Northern Territory – Former Essendon Indigenous footballer Michael Long was named the NT’s Australian of the Year.
The National winners announced were awarded as follows.
There was a theme of community care and involvement is modern issues of Australian society which each of the winners this year, with the more academic and sporting categories, although included in the nominations, taking a back seat to those chosen for the principal roles. Notes were as compiled from the relevant web site.
2019 Australian of the Year
This was a joint award this year – going to the two men who were part of the massive rescue operation carried out in the caves of Thailand last year. Dr Richard Harris OAM from South Australia and Dr Craig Challen SC OAM from Western Australia are the 2019 Australians of the Year for their heroic efforts as part of an international rescue mission to save 12 boys from flooded caves in Thailand. In July 2018, anaesthetist Dr Richard Harris and retired vet Dr Craig Challen made worldwide headlines when they joined an international team to rescue a group of boys and their soccer coach from a flooded cave in Chiang Rai, Thailand. Richard is a diver with 30 years’ experience and a specialist in aeromedical retrieval. He has previously participated in complex diving recoveries, appeared in National Geographic documentaries and, in 2015, was recognised for his outstanding contribution to cave exploration. In 2017 he was awarded The Australasian Technical Diver of the Year. Craig has dived some of Australia’s deepest wrecks and has set depth records in diving, including diving to 194m in the Pearse Resurgence, New Zealand in 2011. He was awarded Technical Diver of the Year 2009 at the Australian technical diving conference Oztek. Both Craig and Richard were awarded the Star of Courage for unwavering and selfless bravery following the successful rescue of the trapped soccer team……in accepting the awards, both men acknowledged that they were just a part of a much larger team of rescuers on that rescue mission.
2019 Senior Australian of the Year
Since starting her career as a paediatrician in 1972, Dr Sue Packer AM has worked tirelessly to advocate for the rights of children. Sue has been a leader in child abuse prevention and treatment and a champion of the importance of early childhood environments for the developing brain. Since starting her career as a paediatrician in 1972, Dr Sue Packer AM has worked tirelessly to advocate for the rights of children. Sue has been a leader in child abuse prevention through the National Association for Prevention of Child Abuse and Neglect since its very early days, and has treated babies and children suffering terrible trauma from child abuse and neglect.
In addition, Sue has championed the importance of early childhood environments for the developing brain, leading to recognition by education and government agencies. Sue was one of the driving forces behind the acknowledgement of the importance of creating child-friendly spaces in hospitals and the value of play in recovery.
Presenting papers at conferences internationally and still volunteering on a number of boards to improve health and well-being of children. She maintains an interest in the adult lives of children she has seen. Sue stands up for the rights of children at every opportunity and encourages others to do the same.
While all winners received standing ovations following their presentations, Dr Sue Packer AM received a wonderful tribute of acknowledgement from all present.
2019 Young Australian of the Year
Working across rap, dance, acting and graffiti, Danzal Baker is a multi-talented, multi-lingual, Indigenous artist. He achieved mainstream success rapping in the Yolngu Matha language, coming 17th in Triple J’s Hottest 100 2017. He uses his talent to inspire Indigenous youth to embrace their culture and take up leadership positions.
Working across rap, dance, acting and graffiti, Danzal Baker is a multi-talented, multi-lingual, Indigenous artist. Danzal, otherwise known as Baker Boy, is the first Indigenous artist to achieve mainstream success rapping in the Yolngu Matha language.
Raised in Milingimbi and Maningrida, Danzal rapped his way to national prominence when his single Marryuna was voted into 17th place in Triple J’s Hottest 100 for 2017; a notable follow-up from his debut single Cloud 9, which won Triple J’s Unearthed competition. Danzal is also an award winner at the National Indigenous Music Awards. He has signed a record deal with Select Music and was handpicked by English rapper Dizzee Rascal to be his Australian support act. In 2018, Danzal won the prestigious Charles Darwin University Art Award at the Northern Territory Young Achievers Awards.
Touring Australia extensively, Danzal is using his talent to inspire young people in remote Indigenous communities and encourage them to embrace their culture and take up leadership positions.
2019 Australia’s Local Hero
This was one of the more emotionally received awards of recent years.
Following the tragic death of their teenage daughter, Amy ‘Dolly’ Everett in January 2018, following extensive bullying, Kate and Tick Everett founded Dolly’s Dream to create positive change and a legacy to their daughter. Their advocacy has resulted in governments taking childhood bullying and its devastating impacts more seriously.
Dolly’s Dream aims to raise awareness about bullying and its potentially devastating effects on children and families. It delivers community education on bullying issues and strategies for preventing and mitigating bullying, through cultural change and victim support. Over 250 communities have held fundraisers and events to support Dolly’s Dream, with a particular focus on regional and rural Australia. Kate and Tick’s non-stop advocacy, meeting with the Prime Minister and Education and Health Ministers across the country, has resulted in governments taking childhood bullying and its devastating impacts more seriously. Kate and Tick advocate tenaciously on a voluntary basis while continuing to muster cattle, train horses and care for their other daughter, Megan, from their home in Katherine, Northern Territory.
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