MEDIA RELEASE
17 NOVEMBER 2006
TASMANIA'S AUSTRALIAN OF THE YEAR AWARD RECIPIENTS ANNOUNCED
6:00PM, HOBART: A dementia care provider, community contributor, youth worker, a disabled residential care provider and the entire community of Beaconsfield were today announced as the Tasmanian recipients in the 2007 Australian of the Year Awards.
The Premier of Tasmania, The Honourable Paul Lennon MHA, announced the award recipients at a special event at Meadowbank Estate this evening. The Premier congratulated all finalists for their contributions to Tasmanian communities and, in particular, the Beaconsfield Community for their stoic resilience and extraordinary demonstration of 'pulling together' which inspired the nation.
- Fern Tree's Dr John Tooth OAM was named Tasmania's Australian of the Year for his unique and touching approach to care for dementia patients. John and his Adards Nursing Home are world-renowned for handling the difficulties of dementia in comfortable surroundings and with a considerate yet simple approach which makes life easier for patients and carers alike.
- Tasmania's Senior Australian of the Year, Frank Hesman OAM BEM, has been serving the Glenorchy community since he first arrived in Australian in 1950. Frank has been involved in almost every community organisation in Glenorchy including the Knights Soccer Club, Lions Club, Continental Music Society and national organisations such as Australian Soccer Assoc and the Historical Arms and Military Society. He was also a foundation member of the International Wall of Friendship, built with stones donated by ethnic communities who have settled in Tasmania.
- Nineteen year old Michael Smith is also from Glenorchy and juggles his event management studies with his commitment to youth leadership, work as a carer in a nursing home, a youth advisor for Clarance Council and other voluntary pursuits. Michael is a mentor for young people looking for guidance and help to fulfil their own potential and is currently travelling around Australia motivating young people to take part in a Vocational Education and Training course.
- Tasmania's Local Heroes were announced as Launceston's Allan Crawford (Metropolitan) and the Beaconsfield Community (Regional).
Allan Crawford runs Dudley House in Launceston, a residential boarding house catering almost entirely for severely disabled people with a chronic psychiatric illness. Where others baulk at having such boarders, Allan does much more that merely provide accommodation. Allan is unfailingly kind to those under his care - he pays close attention to their overall well-being.
The Community of Beaconsfield is well known to all Australians since the Beaconsfield Mine Disaster in April of this year. With that great story of survival and rescue, the rest of the world has also come to understand the power of mateship, community spirit, and teamwork that drove the tremendous effort behind the miners' rescue and which is an outstanding example of the values of the great Australian spirit.
The National Australia Day Council said nominations from Tasmania for this year's awards reflected Australian values such as helping others, community involvement and overcoming adversity with quiet determination.
"The majority of nominations we received from Tasmania this year recognised great Australians who give their time and skills to help others and to make a difference in local communities," said Tam Johnston, Australian of the Year Awards Manager for the National Australia Day Council.
"The people of Beaconsfield obviously showed a wonderful sense of community, mateship and working together in their darkest hour - something all Australians identified with and drew inspiration from.
"Whether it's in times of crisis or in everyday life, there are many Tasmanians who deserve our admiration and our thanks."
All Tasmanian 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.
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Click here to view biographies of all state and territory finalists and recipients.
For further information or to arrange an interview please contact:
Nicole Browne at media op(p)s on 0414 673 762 or nicole@mediaopps.com.au
