MEDIA RELEASE
16 NOVEMBER 2006
QUEENSLAND AUSTRALIAN OF THE YEAR AWARD RECIPIENTS ANNOUNCED
6:00PM, BRISBANE: An advocate for care facilities for young people, a civic leader, an indigenous youth leader, a wildlife carer and a respite care founder were today announced as the Queensland recipients in the 2007 Australian of the Year Awards.
Queensland Premier, The Honourable Peter Beattie MP, announced the award recipients at a special event at the Queensland Museum Plaza this evening.
The Premier praised this year's award winners for their commitment to others and contribution to their communities.
- Ashgrove's David Conry was named Queensland's Australian of the Year for his dedication to improving care for young people with disabilities. David's newly formed YoungCare Foundation is building an innovative apartment complex to provide care suitable for young people whose only previous option has been to use aged care nursing homes.
- Queensland's Senior Australian of the Year, Dr Clem Jones AM, is well known to Brisbane residents, having served as Lord Mayor from 1961 to 1975. Dr Jones has continued to make a difference in his community since retiring and has been a driving force in many organisations and causes including aged and disabled persons care, the World Masters Games and Queensland Football.
- At just 25, Cairn's Tania Major has already established herself as a leading voice for indigenous people. Named today as Queensland's Young Australian of the Year, Tania is the youngest person ever elected to the Aboriginal & Torres Strait Island Commission (ATSIC) and has become known for her honest discussion of the problems in her community with a view to positive change.
- Queensland's Local Heroes were announced as Beachmere's Ross Sharman (Metropolitan) for his dedication as a volunteer wildlife officer in the Caboolture district and Jimboomba's Carole Caswell (Regional) who has long been the driving force behind Rural Lifestyle Options, an organisation she helped found to integrate people with disabilities into the Beaudesert community.
The National Australia Day Council said the quality and breadth of nominations from Queensland for this year's awards were excellent.
"With three of the four national award winners in 2006 and such deserving state award recipients this year, Queensland should be very proud of the many quiet achievers and caring people in their communities" said Tam Johnston, Australian of the Year Awards Manager for the National Australia Day Council.
All Queensland award recipients now become national finalists in the Australian of the Year Awards to be announced by the Prime Minister in Canberra on 25 January 2007.
Click here to read biographies of award recipients.
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For further information or to arrange an interview please contact:
Steve Riethoff at media op(p)s on 0417 047 837 or steve@mediaopps.com.au
Nicole Browne at media op(p)s on 0414 673 762 or nicole@mediaopps.com.au
