Peter Cundall AM, Ronnie Burns, Sam Cawthorn, John Layton Hodgetts OAM
7:30PM HOBART: A gardening icon, a King of pop, a street kid survivor and exceptional band leader have tonight been named as the Tasmanian recipients in the Australian of the Year Awards 2009.
The Premier of Tasmania, David Bartlett MP presented the recipients with their awards in a ceremony this evening and congratulated all finalists on having earned such a prestigious honour from their fellow Tasmanians.
The Tasmanian award recipients are:
The Tasmanian Australian of the Year 2009 is gardening expert Peter Cundall AM.
Peter Cundall has been gardening since he was a small child and has a love of the environment. Born in Manchester, he taught himself paving techniques mainly using second-hand materials wheeled from derelict buildings in an old pram. He also learned pruning techniques, propagation and heated greenhouse management, and helped feed his family with the development of a highly productive vegetable garden. After leaving the Australian Army in 1956, he began his own business designing and constructing gardens in Tasmania. In 1967, he began one of the world's first gardening talkback programs on a Launceston radio station and two years later he began a career in television with a program which after several name and format changes became Gardening Australia, one of the longest running, most iconic shows in Australia. Peter has also played a major role in creating the Organic Gardening and Farming Society and has written extensively on gardening, including producing the first gardening book printed on washable plastic paper for outdoor use, Year Round Gardening. He remains actively involved with environmental, peace and child protection movements. Peter is a well-known and much-loved figure in Australian gardening who is respected for his sincere and open-hearted manner.
The Tasmanian Senior Australian of the Year 2009 is respite centre founder Ronnie Burns.
Ronnie Burns is a well-known singer and former 'King of Pop.' For decades he touched people with his music but he gave up the world of showbiz to dedicate his life to saving children. Supported by his wife Maggie, he created the Appin Hall Children's Foundation Respite Centre which provides refuge for terminally ill, disadvantaged, abused and destitute children, and their carers. Ronnie is involved in every aspect of the centre from sourcing potential sponsorship to hands-on building of the new and ever-expanding facilities to accommodate more children. His vision is to eventually have a village that will house 200 children and six permanent staff members. In the meantime for the children already staying at Appin Hall he stages music nights, takes them to visit local attractions and, most importantly, acts as a role model and trusted friend to these children who have experienced much trauma in their lives. Ronnie is known as a man with a huge heart who is generous and selfless with his time. He works tirelessly in his quest to create a safe and nurturing environment and a future for what he sees as the most precious thing on this planet - our children.
The Tasmanian Young Australian of the Year 2009 is motivator Sam Cawthorn.
Sam Cawthorn grew up on a farm with 10 brothers and sisters. At the age of 15 he left home and began mixing with street kids. He was kicked out of school but realised if he wanted to achieve his dreams he would have to turn his life around. Sam worked hard to put his past behind him and went on to pursue his goals of working in the performing arts and as a youth pastor. However in 2006 Sam was involved in a head-on collision with a semi trailer that resulted in his right arm being amputated above the elbow and broken bones in his right leg. He was lucky to be alive. As a result of his experiences he decided to help others by establishing the program 'Be Motivated.' The program aims to provide young people with the necessary life skills to achieve the seemingly impossible. Sam invests those around him with confidence and self-belief. He represents the ability to remain positive and enthusiastic about life in the face of adversity.
The Tasmanian Local Hero of the Year 2009 is bandleader John Layton Hodgetts OAM.
From an early age Layton Hodgetts developed a passion for music and after moving to New Norfolk, a small town in Tasmania's Derwent Valley, he discovered that there was little to do for those not interested in sport. So in 1993, Layton developed the Derwent Valley Community Band. The following year a cultural exchange saw the band go to Japan and perform as part of Band Expo. The band was soon invited to play at events across Tasmania and then in 1997 to attend the Calgary Stampede in Canada, this time as a marching band, an arena in which they had no experience. After many hours of practice under Layton's tutelage they achieved an amazing score of 95 per cent for their performance. Since then the band has toured to Austria, Czech Republic, Germany, France and Scandinavia, and performed at the ceremony to open China's participation for the Olympics and the royal wedding parades for Princess Mary and Prince Frederic in Denmark. Layton is now a judge for bands throughout the world and was awarded a gold medal for conducting at the 2008 European Championships. He is an inspiration to his community for his determination and passion to create something that they can contribute to and be proud of.
The National Australia Day Council congratulated all finalists on their achievements and acknowledged the recipients of this year's Tasmanian awards for their outstanding contributions.
"The four Tasmanian award recipients have enhanced the lives of thousands," said Tam Johnston, Director of the Australian of the Year Awards.
"These truly inspiring figures are a credit to Tasmania and they now join the high calibre of finalists for the national awards."
This year also marks the 30th anniversary of the Commonwealth Bank's involvement with the Australian of the Year Awards.
"It is the opportunity to acknowledge the work of outstanding Australians, like the Tasmanian finalists, that makes the Group proud to be the Major Sponsor of the Australian of the Year Awards program for the last 30 years," said Ralph Norris, Chief Executive Officer, Commonwealth Bank.
All Tasmanian award recipients now become national finalists in their categories for the Australian of the Year Awards to be announced in Canberra on 25 January 2009.
