The Tasmanian finalists for Australian of the Year, Senior Australian of the Year, Young Australian of the Year and Australia's Local Hero were announced today.
Tasmanian finalists include a world record sailor, an Imam, an orienteering world champion, a ceramic artist and a Buddhist Monk.
Ms Tam Johnston, National Manager of the Australian of the Year Awards, said nominations for this year's awards reflected the values Australians admired in others.
"We received more than 3,000 nominations for people who are contributing to the community, who are taking a leadership role in our society and whose achievements are an inspiration," said Ms Johnston.
Ralph Norris, Chief Executive Officer of major sponsor Commonwealth Bank of Australia, said the finalists demonstrated the diversity of Australian society and the importance of community.
"The finalists in this year's awards make a difference within local communities or to the Australian community as a whole and their contributions are a vital part of what makes this country great," said Mr Norris.
Recipients of each category will be announced at Tasmania 's Australian of the Year Awards Ceremony on Friday 23 November at Meadowbank Estate, Cambridge at 6:00pm. Recipients in each category then become national finalists for the Australian of the Year Awards to be announced on the lawns of Parliament House in Canberra on 25 January, 2008.
Tasmania 's finalists are:
TASMANIA 'S AUSTRALIAN OF THE YEAR
Dr John Church - Oceanographer (Hobart)
Ken Gourlay - World record sailor (Launceston)
Annette Peardon - Reconciliation activist (Cape Barron)
Peter Tanfield - Violinist and mentor (Lenah Valley)
TASMANIA 'S SENIOR AUSTRALIAN OF THE YEAR
Elisabeth Bennett - Community contributor (Orford)
Les Blakebrough - Leading ceramic artist (Hobart)
Master Xin-De Wang - Buddhist master (Sandy Bay)
Jean Withers - Community carer (Young Town)
TASMANIA 'S YOUNG AUSTRALIAN OF THE YEAR
Johanna Allston - Athlete and student (Fern Tree)
Isuru Amarasena - Award winning achiever (Sandy Bay)
Robyn McKinnon - Youth mentor (Longford)
Jeremy Smith - Community contributor (Lower Snug)
TASMANIA 'S LOCAL HERO
Robyn Hanson - Disabled sports supporter (Summerhill)
Imam Sabri Samson - Muslim community leader (Old Beach)
Carlene Vickers - Cultural renovator (Zeehan)
Sonya Williams - Community carer (Gagebrook)
Ends.
Finalist bios attached with this media release.
For further information or to arrange an interview please contact:
Nicole Browne, Media Opps
02 9954 7677 or 0414 673 762 or nicole@mediaopps.com.au
BIOGRAPHIES - TASMANIA FINALISTS, AUSTRALIAN OF THE YEAR AWARDS 2008
AUSTRALIAN OF THE YEAR - TASMANIA
Dr John Church
Oceanographer
Based in Hobart, oceanographer Dr John Church leads the CSIRO's research into sea level rise. He has become one of the world's most respected scientists studying the effects of global warming on the oceans. His ground-breaking work, which required a combination of creative thinking and meticulous attention to detail, has set the international standard for monitoring sea levels and led to his being awarded a prestigious Eureka Prize in 2007. John analysed century-old data collected the old fashioned way (from tidal gauges around the world) alongside recent satellite data and produced a 130-year-old record of worldwide average sea levels, providing evidence of an acceleration in the rate of 20th Century sea level rises. He believes that when it comes to climate change everyone has a role to play. John's research has stimulated new ways of thinking about sea level rise and is changing the way people respond to their environment.
Ken Gourlay
World record sailor
Ken Gourlay dreamt of being the first Tasmanian and the fastest Australian to sail alone, non-stop and unassisted, around the world. With more than 70,000 nautical miles of sailing already behind him, including several Sydney to Hobart races and line honours in a Melbourne to Launceston race, Ken set out in his 42 ft yacht Spirit Silver Edition in November 2006 on his solo quest of circumnavigation. He returned to Launceston in the record time of less than 180 days, just pipping the previous best time set in 2001, and officially became only the sixth Australian to do the journey under the stringent rules that apply to these feats of courage and perseverance. This makes him the fastest, and oldest, Australian to circumnavigate the globe. Along the way, he raised more than $100,000 for medical research into eyesight disorders and diseases in children. Ken truly does live his dreams to the full.
Annette Peardon
Reconciliation activist
Seven years ago Annette Peardon made history by becoming the first member of the public in more than 100 years to address the Tasmanian House of Assembly. Her address was moving and powerful. The standing ovation she received from the Parliament was a fitting tribute to her positive and tenacious fight for justice - as a Co-Commissioner on the national inquiry into the removal of Indigenous children from their families and in her work over many years re-uniting removed children with their families. She then triggered a debate about compensation for the stolen generations that led to a landmark funding package benefitting 124 Tasmanian Aborigines. This Aboriginal Elder and staunch activist is highly respected by the wider community for her tenacious fight for justice. Annette has come a long way since she was taken away from her mother fifty years ago and she has brought so many along with her.
Peter Tanfield
Violinist and mentor
Peter Tanfield is a violinist who has played with the world's great musicians - from Pinchas Zuckerman to Charlie Watts - and for world leaders, such as China's Deng Xiaoping.. As a soloist Peter has played throughout Europe, China, Japan, India, Russia, and North America and has recorded numerous solo and chamber works as well as appearing both as a performer and a concertmaster with some of the world's best orchestras. In 1998 he stepped onto our local stage to lead the Australian String Quartet and since 2005 has been lecturer in violin and ensemble at the University of Tasmania's Conservatorium of Music. His work mentoring a wide range of amateur musical groups, including the Tasmanian Youth Orchestra and the Hobart chamber Orchestra has been invaluable tot eh Tasmanian community. There he channels his enormous energy and gift for communicating joy in music making into helping and inspiring other musicians and collaborating with people who share his love of good music.
SENIOR AUSTRALIAN OF THE YEAR - TASMANIA
Elisabeth Bennett
Community contributer
Elisabeth (Beth) Bennett has a strong social conscience and commitment to justice and fairness for all Tasmanians. Since moving to the East Coast more than thirty years ago this has translated into the wellbeing of the older people of the Glamorgan-Spring Bay area; she was named Spring Bay Citizen of the Year in 1990 for her work. Beth has been an advocate of positive ageing, chaired a War Widow Guild for more than twenty years, and worked as a mentor with young people as a member of the Guides Tasmania Council. An innovative organiser, Beth has been responsible for coordinating Seniors' Week concerts in Orford for several years. Beth is involved in volunteer activities almost every day of the week.
Les Blakebrough
Leading ceramic artist
In a career spanning five decades Les Blakebrough has become one of Australia's most acclaimed and influential ceramic artists. The list of the solo and joint exhibitions of his works across Australian cities and regions also confirms him as prolific. His body of work has ranged from earthy, functional wares to more recent delicate forms. The beauty of the form of these later works is emphasised by the translucency and fragility of his trademarked Southern Ice Porcelain. Chasing his vision over five years, Les developed a very beautiful material that is quite special, very translucent, very white, and very easy to work with. He has made an extraordinary contribution to visual art, craft, and design in Australia as a practitioner, teacher, mentor, and visionary advocate.
Master Xin-De Wang
Buddhist master
Master Xin-De Wang is the spiritual leader for more than three million people in a hundred countries. He made Tasmania his home nine years ago because it offers the tranquillity that reflects the spirit of his religious beliefs. Living a simple, frugal, and unassuming life, Master Wang promotes peace and harmony and is dedicated to advancing tolerance. He says that his new home is the best place in the world, like a pearl. He not only brought to Tasmania traditional Eastern cultures such as dragon and lion dances, but he also led the way in being the first Buddhist organisation to join in Christmas celebrations. Master Wang's organisation has donated more than $600,000 to the community, benefiting such groups as the Red Cross and the Salvation Army. He joined other religious leaders in ceremonies for bombing and tsunami victims. All of Master Wang's actions reflect his core value of giving rather than receiving.
Jean Withers
Community carer
Jean Withers is a nursing sister who has spent her professional life predominantly in midwifery and community nursing and now extends her helping hands to all who need her skills and empathy. Even when working full time, Jean was a willing volunteer palliative care support worker at a Launceston hospice for eight years. She later supported patients by providing transport to medical appointments and treatment sessions as well as spending time with terminally ill patients so that close family members got some relief from their vigil. She sat with those without family to accompany them in their dying hours. Jean is also involved in supporting adults with disabilities through a group called Crossroads, visits the elderly and takes them for a walk or a ride, has been a Meals-on-Wheels volunteer over the past twenty-five years, and a regular donor of a rare blood type for over thirty years.
YOUNG AUSTRALIAN OF THE YEAR - TASMANIA
Johanna Allston, 21
Athlete and student
Johanna Allston combines her academic pursuits as a medical student with her prowess as an elite athlete. Starting orienteering at ten, Johanna won her first national event four years ago and her first international medal at the World Junior Championships in Switzerland in 2005. She trains twice a day, seven days a week and in the lead up to the 2006 World Orienteering Championships in Denmark she was running over 150 kilometres a week. It paid off, because Johanna became the first ever competitor from outside of Europe to win the world crown. Amazingly, this followed wins in the juniors, making her the first athlete to win both senior and junior championships in the same year. Johanna was the Tasmanian Sports Institute's Athlete of the Year in 2006 but she has no plans to turn professional as she regards medicine as a more important part of her life.
Isuru Amarasena, 23
Award winning achiever
Isuru Amarasena came to Australia from Sri Lanka as a young boy, moving to Tasmania with his family in 1996. After attending The Hutchins School on a bursary - and winning many other academic, sporting, and leadership prizes along the way - he won a University of Tasmania scholarship to study medicine from 2003. He recently graduated with a Bachelor of Medical Science with First Class Honours and received a further scholarship from the Australian Lung Foundation for his honours project, which was accepted for presentation at a recent world conference held in Korea. Isuru also contributes to his community through his volunteer work with migrants and refugees, coaching young children in sporting activities, representing his community as a youth delegate to the Amnesty International Youth Summit, and working as an Australian Medical Students Association volunteer in a hospital and in a remote village in Sri Lanka affected by the tsunami.
Robyn McKinnon, 23
Youth mentor
Robyn McKinnon has a remarkable record of youth support and counselling in schools and is also a trained sexual assault crisis worker. Robyn has been a youth mentoring program coordinator for Northern Tasmania Development, an award winning entity owned by eight local councils that identifies and facilitates worthy community initiatives. She has set up projects that provide an early morning meal at school for children in need and an after school mentoring program for young rural girls that focuses on building self esteem and healthy lifestyles and has trained 40 community members as mentors. Robyn is dedicated to raising awareness of child sexual abuse and developing support programs that help young people make the transition to adulthood. Robyn has been member of the Tasmanian Youth Consultative Committee, one of three Tasmanians on the 2007 National Youth Roundtable, a member of the Launceston Women's Shelter management committee and is the 2007 Tasmanian Young Achiever of the Year in the Spirit of Tasmania category.
Jeremy Smith, 24
Community contributor
Having a young family doesn't stop Jeremy Smith channelling his personal drive to give back to his community as well as succeed academically. Jeremy's psychology studies led him to research into the dynamics of how people manage the fear of death. His work is particularly relevant to conducting couples therapy with cancer patients. He was awarded the Sir Philip Fysh Prize for outstanding performance in second year Psychology and the HT Parker Prize for the highest overall marks in third year. Jeremy has volunteered as a youth worker helping teenage boys who are struggling to remain productive in class, participated in World Vision Leadership Camps, and has volunteered at the Red Cross Roadhouse. He recently was an organiser of a community festival that celebrated the strengths and diversity of the Margate area and built an increased sense of community there.
LOCAL HERO - TASMANIA
Robyn Hanson
Disabled sports supporter
With Robyn Hanson's guidance and unstoppable enthusiasm, the New Horizons Club, which she founded more than twenty years ago, has succeeded in catering for disabled members of Tasmania's Northern communities and their families. The club provides wonderful opportunities for people with a disability to enjoy a wide variety of sport and other recreational activities that most of us take for granted. No sports slouch herself, Robyn represented Tasmania in school netball and later coached state junior teams in a career that spanned forty years. She was also a representative tennis player and coach for many years. With the help of a few enthusiastic supporters, Robyn created an organisation that has gone on to help hundreds of people with a disability find their sporting niche. Robyn has been inducted into the Special Olympics Hall of Fame and recently was appointed as track and field delegate to the World Games in Shanghai.
Imam Sabri Samson
Muslim community leader
Imam Sabri Samson came from Malaysia as an eighteen year old to study at the University of Tasmania and stayed on. After graduating with a Bachelor of Science and a Diploma of Teaching he taught science and electronics in Hobart for almost twenty years before retiring from the education system five years ago. But he hasn't given up being a teacher and mentor in the community as Imam of Hobart Mosque and Executive Member of the Islamic Council of Tasmania, roles he has been performing since 1984. As spokesman for Tasmania's Muslim community he carries positive stories to the media and promotes synergy between the different faiths. Imam Samson lectures and presents information sessions at the Mosque and more widely in the community - for example, in schools, Scouts, inter-faith forums, service clubs, and the police academy - and is involved in Harmony Day, achieving social cohesion in a multi-faith society.
Carlene Vickers
Cultural renovator
In 2000 a small group of women led by Carlene Vickers decided to restore their local theatre to its former glory. The Gaiety Theatre at Zeehan on the West Coast is historically significant for both the town and Tasmania because it is one of the few remaining late Victorian combined theatre-hotel complexes. It's also important because it shows the social and cultural side of the mining industry, whose boom times supported the building of this 1,000 seat theatre in 1898. Carlene and the Friends of the Gaiety raised $120,000 to begin the restoration work, starting with shopfront renovations, new displays, painting, plumbing, roof repairs, and upgrading the hotel's public rooms. All their hard work paid off when the theatre was officially re-opened in April 2006, giving Zeehan a second chance to be on the cultural map and once again attract big events, as it did with Harry Houdini all those years ago.
Sonya Williams
Community carer
Sonya Williams was diagnosed with leukaemia at the age of fourteen and was given little chance of surviving. She was told that if she survived the chemotherapy she would never be able to work or have children. Three children and thirty years later, Sonya works tirelessly helping others. She has spent countless hours knitting woollies for the Royal Hobart Hospital. She has taken many street kids into her home, helping them find their feet materially and spiritually. She has two foster children in her care and she spends hours a week cooking for pensioners, playing cards with them, and listening to their yarns. Sonya cooks 15-20 traditional home-made meals every Thursday night for Vietnam veterans. And every Friday night she serves sandwiches and hot drinks out of a van to needy people. Through this work she provides an invaluable listening ear and advice to those in need.
