Australian of the Year Awards

Australia 's most inspirational young people will visit Tasmanian towns and cities from Monday 27 August to Wednesday 29 August to meet high school students, University alumni and community members.

Young Australian of the Year 2007, Queensland indigenous youth leader Tania Major will join Tasmania's own Young Australian of the Year 2007 Michael Smith and fellow award winners from Western Australia, South Australia and the Northern Territory. The Tour aims to inspire young people to achieve their personal goals and dreams.

Tasmania 's Young Australian of the Year 2007, Michael Smith, said he was excited to be showing the other Young Australians of the Year some of his beautiful, home State and to renewing friendships.

"We were lucky to be able to spend time together and get to know one another in the days leading up to the Australian of the Year Awards announcement in Canberra last January and I'm really proud to call these amazing people my friends," said Michael.

"It was a real privilege to meet these young people and to work with them in creating a change and shaking our world up a bit to try and make a difference.

"We're all completely different and come from such varying backgrounds and areas of achievement, yet we share a common sense that young people can do anything they want.

"I think the high school students we will meet on the tour will be really motivated by this group of young Australians and I hope they will be inspired to follow their dreams."

The group will meet students and speak about their various achievements and lessons in life so far at Kingsmeadow High School, Launceston, Campbell Town High School, Oatlands High School and Bridgewater High School. They will also speak at University forums in Launceston and Hobart, and will attend a reception at Government House in Hobart.

Young Australian of the Year 2007 Tania Major said she hoped the visit would also inspire more Tasmanian nominations in the Australian of the Year Awards 2008.

"Being named Young Australian of the Year 2007 was a great honour, but meeting the other state and territory recipients in the Young Australian of the Year category made me realise just how many amazing young people there are in our communities," said Tania.

"So make sure you nominate the great, young people of Tasmania in this year's awards, because unless you nominate them, they can't be recognised with an award.

"Just knowing someone has nominated you in the awards is an honour and it's great motivation for a young person to know their efforts and achievements are appreciated and respected by others.

"Your nomination could help to find the next Young Australian of the Year and it will make a real difference to a young person's self-belief."

Nominations for Australian of the Year, Senior Australian of the Year, Young Australian of the Year and Local Hero are now open online at www.australianoftheyear.gov.au or you can pick up a nomination form at your local Commonwealth Bank branch or call 1300 655 193 for more information. Nominations close on Friday 31 August 2007.

Young Australians Tour Schedule:

Mon 27 August                                   Launceston                                                 University of Tasmania Forum
                                                                                                                                     Kingsmeadow High School
                                                                                                                                     University of Tasmania Alumni Function

Tue 28 August                                   Campbelll Town                                         Campbell Town High School
                                                                                                                                    Oatlands Oatlands High School    
                                                                                                                                     Bridgewater Bridgewater High School
                                                             Hobart                                                           Government House Reception

Wed 29 August                                 Hobart                                                            University of Tasmania Forum

Ends.

Media information contact:

Nicole Browne, Media Opps                          (02) 9954 7677 or 0414 673 762

BIOS - Young Australians of the Year 2007

Young Australian of the year 2007
Tania Major (QLD)
Indigenous youth advocate

Tania Major came to public attention three years ago as the youngest person ever elected to ATSIC. She broke the ice of public discussion about a number of issues concerning the welfare of young Indigenous people when she was featured on national television programs such as Four Corners and 60 Minutes. She made some people feel very uncomfortable, and was happy to do so. She spoke directly and very publicly to the prime minister and other opinion leaders about the appalling secrets of domestic violence in her community in the belief that the best way to represent her people was to tell the truth. Tania is the only person within her community to complete a university degree; indeed, she's the only one to have successfully completed Year 12. Tania has become a role model not only for Indigenous youth, but also for all young Australian's.

Tasmania 's young australian of the year 2007
Michael Smith
Youth worker

Even at this young age, Michael Smith has already given five years of voluntary work for his community, including working at a nursing home. He served as a member of the Tasmanian Youth Consultative Committee, the state's peak body for youth participation. This group of fifteen young people met regularly to consult, inform, and act on youth issues. Michael was also a facilitator for the Festival of Dreams program, helping young people fulfil their dreams through a weekend of guidance, mentorship, and self-help. Since leaving the program he has trained young people facilitation skills to carry on his role in the program and contributed to hosting a state wide youth forum in an aim to connect youth to the services available in their area. He has now completed his diploma in events management while working as a carer in a nursing home and with the Clarance Council on youth issues. Currently he is travelling around Australia motivating and encouraging youth to take part in the Vocational Education and Training course. His nominators for this award agree that Michael has a real passion for the youth of his community while also caring about older people. He is a young man of high energy and commitment - a leader and role model.

South Australia 's young australian of the year 2007
Laura Long
Regional advocate

Laura Long 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. This small town is at the centre of a region once known as the Ninety Mile Desert , which through sustainable farming practices and management has long since been converted into productive land. Regional areas such as this need to keep their young people so that they too can blossom and grow. Laura decided very early on to make a difference to quality education opportunities for rural youths. She completed her Bachelor of Agriculture in 2000 and then for her Bachelor of Education specialised in secondary school agriculture and science teaching. At the age of twenty-two, she became a manager, with a staff of three, in a training organisation and is now responsible for seventy agricultural trainees across the state. Laura is making a real difference in the lives of other young people and contributing to the continued life in the bush.

Western Australia 's young australian of the year 2007
Darren Lomman
Innovative engineer

Darren Lomman makes dreams come true. A chance meeting with someone who had lost the use of his legs set Darren on a course that consumed him for more than two years. The injured motocross rider he met had one wish - to ride again. So this young engineering student designed and built a motorcycle for paraplegic riders that won him an award for his innovative contribution to biomedical engineering. His hand-controlled motorbike is the first of its kind to be registered for road use and now, along with final year engineering students, he is working on a hovercraft and a ski boat. Darren founded the Disabled Recreation Club, enabling people with disabilities to socialise in a non-competitive sporting environment, and set up a trust that funds other equipment design projects for people with disabilities. Darren clearly follows his own advice - make the dreams of today become the opportunities of tomorrow.

Northern Territory 's young australian of the year 2007
Katharina Fehringer
Musician

Katharina Fehringer is a well known and respected Darwin classical guitarist, violinist, music teacher, and performing artist. She has performed extensively in local, national, and international settings and has received several arts scholarships and awards. Katharina's prizes for eisteddfods over the past ten years or so number nearly thirty - including first prize for orchestral strings duet; guitar or mandolin; orchestral strings solo; dance solo ethnic; and Australian verse solo - at both age and open levels of competition. She is a regular performer at the Darwin International Guitar Festival and at the Arafura Games opening ceremony. Katharina was a member of the Chief Minister's Round Table for Young Territorians and the inaugural National Youth Roundtable. A graduate of the Charles Darwin University , she has also studied flamenco guitar in Europe and has recently been accepted to study at the prestigious Royal Northern College of Music in England .