“Thank you Australia for this honour,” AFL hero and exemplary campaigner against racism Adam Goodes said after being announced the 2014 Australian Of The Year by the National Australia Day Council in Canberra last night.
The veteran Sydney Swans star cemented his role as one of Australia’s most noble sporting figures after being subjected to racial abuse from a 13-year-old girl during a game at the MCG, and turned the subsequent media frenzy into an opportunity to educate Australians about the nation’s existing culture of racism, and raise awareness for the #Racismitstopswithme campaign for which he’s an ambassador.
Goodes told the National Australia Day Council, “My hope is that we as a nation can break down the silos between races, break down those stereotypes of minority populations. I hope we can be proud of our heritage, regardless of the colour of our skin and be proud to be Australian.
Earlier Paralympic gold medallist Jacqueline Freney was named the Young Australian of the Year, for those aged 16 to 30.
The 21-year-old swimmer was the star performer at the London Games finishing undefeated in all of her events.