MEDIA RELEASE
SA AUSTRALIAN OF THE YEAR AWARD RECIPIENTS ANNOUNCED
ADELAIDE:: A genius mathematician, a disabled former speedway driver, a rural youth leader, the instigator of a community musical theatre group and a regional netball heroine were today announced as the SA recipients in the 2007 Australian of the Year Awards.
The Governor of South Australia, Her Excellency Marjorie Jackson-Nelson AC CVO MBE, announced the award recipients at a special event at Government House this evening, congratulating all finalists for their inspiring achievements.
- Professor Terence Tao is the most outstanding mathematician Australia has ever produced. The 31 year old from Bellevue Heights competed in three Mathematics Olympiads from the age of ten, winning bronze, silver, and gold medals against mostly eighteen-year olds. He gained his PhD from Princeton University at twenty and was made a full Professor of Mathematics at twenty-four. The International Congress of Mathematics recently made him the youngest person - and the first Australian - to be awarded the prestigious Fields Medal, the mathematics equivalent of the Nobel Prize.
- South Australia 's Senior Australian of the Year, Pasadena 's Phillip Herreen, was one of Australia 's most popular speedway drivers until a horrific crash in 1993 left him confined to a wheel chair. The former national speedcar champion is still inspiring people with his deeds. Originally from the building industry, he now helps people rebuild their lives, brick by brick. He's a volunteer peer support advocate, working side by side with injured people, giving them encouragement, inspiration, and hints on life in a wheelchair. He's a mentor to many sports people who have become disabled through accidents. And Phillip is a volunteer facilitator helping youth in trouble for driving and other offences.
- The South Australia Young Australian of the Year is 24 year old Laura Long of Coonalpyn. Laura is passionate about regional education and vocational training as a way of providing opportunities for rural young people. From a young age, Laura dreaded having to leave rural South Australia to complete her schooling and attend university and decided to make a difference to quality education opportunities for rural youth. She completed her Bachelor of Agriculture in 2000 and then, for her Bachelor of Education, specialised in secondary school agriculture and science teaching. At just 22, she became a manager in a training organisation and is now responsible for 70 agricultural trainees across the state.
- The SA Local Hero (Metropolitan) was announced as Summertown's Pat Rix for her dedication to sharing the joys of performance with people of all backgrounds and abilities. Pat established the Tutti Ensemble ten years ago to give people the opportunity to live out their dreams through music, theatre, and performing to audiences. With more than half of its members identifying with a disability, it has become an internationally acclaimed model of integrated arts with a truly unique voice in Australian music theatre.
- The SA Local Hero (Regional) is Berri's Wendy Gambling who has been a tireless advocate and voice for her local Riverland sporting community. Wendy has been an active contributor to her community in many ways over the years, but it is her lifelong dedication to the Riverland Netball Association, first as a player and later as an administrator, for which she has become best known. She has umpired all grades and was the manager of the team that won the 2004 World Masters Over 40's Championship in Brisbane . Wendy can rightfully take much credit for there being hundreds of girls playing netball in her community every weekend.
The National Australia Day Council said the nominations received from South Australia for this year's awards demonstrated the wide variety of achievements and community contribution which define great Australians.
"South Australians can be very proud of all the finalists this year," said Tam Johnston, Australian of the Year Awards Manager for the National Australia Day Council.
"These are people we can all admire and be inspired by."
All South Australia 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 Op(p)s (02) 9954 7677 or 0414 673 762 (5-6 Dec)
Steve Riethoff, Media Op(p)s 0417 047 837 (6 Dec)
