On a stormy night in Canberra, David Morrison AO has been announced as Australian Of The Year for 2016, following his tireless work fighting for equality for Australia’s female soldiers. In the ceremony on Federation Mall, flanked by PM Malcolm Turnbull, Morrison said the continual inequality present in Australia remains totally unacceptable.
Morrison came to public prominence after releasing a video lead the charge against discrimination in the military. In it, he said “the standard you walk past is the one you accept,” defining the simple – but profound – stance the nation needs to take on the issue. His work has only progressed the cause since then.
Other nominees for the award represent a broad range of Australian excellence. They include:
- Western Australia’s Anne Carey, a nurse who assisted emergency efforts during Sierra Leone’s Ebola crisis;
- Victoria’s Julian McMahon, a human rights advocate, and the barrister who defended Myuran Sukumuran & Andrew Chan against their death sentences;
- Queensland’s Catherine McGregor AM, a powerful public advocate for transgender Australians;
- The NT‘s Will MacGregor, for tackling youth drug and alcohol abuse in the Territory;
- Tasmania’s conservationist Jane Hutchinson for helping to protect 65,000 hectares of vital flora and fauna;
- New South Wales’ Elizabeth Broderick for her former Sex Discrimination Commissioner role;
- and South Australian burns surgeon Dr John Greenwood AM, who leads a nation-first mobile burns response unit.
Professor Gordian Fulde was also honoured as Senior Australian Of The Year. Fulde has been the Director of the Emergency Department at St Vincent’s Hospital for over thirty years, and has used his experience to stand up for prominent public health issues like alcohol and drug abuse.
Professor Gordian Fulde from NSW awarded the Senior Australian of the Year for 2016 #AusoftheYear #ozdayABC pic.twitter.com/Lewy2m6S9L
— ABC News 24 (@ABCNews24) January 25, 2016
Young Australian Of The Year’s recipients are Nic Marchesi and Lucas Pratchett, founders of Orange Sky Laundry, a free initiative offering laundry services to the homeless.
#BREAKING: Nic Marchesi, Lucas Patchett – Young Australians of the Year for vans offering free laundry to homeless pic.twitter.com/AogobAQfRl
— ABC News (@abcnews) January 25, 2016
Australian Local Hero was awarded to Dr Catherine Keenan, for her foundational role at Sydney Story Factory, a creative, volunteer-run education outlet for youth in inner Sydney.
Youth educator Dr Catherine Keenan from NSW has been awarded Australia’s Local Hero 2016 #AusoftheYear #ozdayABC pic.twitter.com/MTwkttQbUG
— ABC News 24 (@ABCNews24) January 25, 2016
From PEDESTRIAN.TV, congratulations to Morrison and every single other nominee – thanks for helping to make Australia what it is.
Source: Australian Of The Year Awards / ABC.
Photo: Ed Giles / Getty.
