MEDIA RELEASE
1 DECEMBER 2006
NSW RECIPIENTS OF
2007 AUSTRALIAN OF THE YEAR AWARDS ANNOUNCED
SYDNEY: An internationally renowned environmental scientist, an asbestos justice campaigner, a young Muslim community leader, a volunteer rescuer and man who turned a shed into a centre for men's self-help were today announced as the NSW recipients in the 2007 Australian of the Year Awards.
The Governor of NSW, Her Excellency Professor Marie Bashir AC CVO, announced the award recipients at a special event at The Art Gallery of NSW this evening, congratulating all NSW finalists and nominees in this year's awards program for their outstanding contributions and achievements.
- Environmentalist, Dr Tim Flannery was announced as NSW Australian of the Year 2007 for his achievements as one of the world's leading writer-scientists, explorers and environmentalists. Dr Flannery has shown that human activity is drastically altering Earth's climate and that these changes will have a devastating effect of life on this planet and wants to mobilise the social and political will to address this problem before it's too late. That's why he wrote an important and provocative book The Weather Makers, which debuted on the New York Times bestseller list and which also won this year's NSW Premier's Book of the Year award.
- The NSW Senior Australian of the Year, West Pennant Hills' Bernie Banton AM is well known for his struggle for justice for individuals, families and communities affected by asbestos. Many have been touched and inspired by Bernie's courage, compassion and commitment. Bernie has stood up for the sick, the bereaved, the dying and for what is right for his community.
- At just 22, Punchbowl's Iktimal Hage-Ali juggles full-time employment, part-time university study and a commitment to a large number of organisations with the aim of establishing positive links between Muslim and non-Muslim communities. She participated in the 2000 Prime Minister's Youth Roundtable and the 2005 Summit with Muslim Community Leaders in Canberra. Her intelligent and positive contribution was recognised by leaders and the public and she became a voice for young Muslim Australians who were feeling isolated and rejected
- The NSW Local Heroes were announced as Narrabeen's Michael Stringer OAM (Metropolitan) and Grenfell's Len Wallace (Regional).
- Over more than 33 years with the Royal Volunteer Coastal Patrol, Michael Stringer has performed nearly 900 rescue missions and the Marine Rescue Council. He and his crews have been responsible for more than 260 life saving rescues and another 1,800 Australians have been directly assisted in marine rescue situations. It's estimated that he has personally contributed well over 45,000 unpaid hours. He remains a tireless advocate of recognition for all emergency service volunteers. An example of the innovative way he operates was seen in the 1994 bushfires, when he converted pumps on marine lifeboats into water-borne pumping facilities to fight fires on the Pittwater foreshores.
- Len Wallace established the Men's Shed in Grenfell as a way to address the growing problem of depression among men in the community. The Men's Shed is a self-help organisation where people share their experiences in life, their stories, their talents and skills. A gathering place for the men of the community, it is where the retired, semi-retired or just plain lonely get together to make toys, furniture, and handicrafts from scrap metal and wood and where friendships are made. The men gain a sense of purpose, learn new skills and, like Len, contribute to their community.
The National Australia Day Council said the NSW award recipients in this year's awards reflected the diversity of contribution to the community and the greater good.
"The NSW award recipients may be varied in their backgrounds but they have all made a significant difference to the community, either by changing the way we look at and engage in the world like Dr Flannery, by changing social perceptions like Iktimal, fighting for others like Bernie or making a real difference on a very human level like our Local Heroes," said Tam Johnston, Australian of the Year Awards Manager for the National Australia Day Council.
"They are all Australians we can be proud of and be inspired by."
All NSW 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.
The Commonwealth Bank is proud to be the major sponsor of the Australian of the Year Awards.
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For further information or to arrange an interview please contact:
Nicole Browne, Media Opps (02) 9954 7677 or 0414 673 762
Steve Riethoff, Media Opps 0417 047 837
