Every Australian of the Year is different. In fact, the current trophy design for the state and national awards features glass with many facets, to reflect the ‘multi facets of Australian society'. In just a few days, nominations for the next recipients will close.
Since its inception in 1960, the Australian of the Year Awards have provided a place to recognise outstanding achievement through the stories of incredible Australians. Stories from all corners of our nation and from all walks of life.
Tennis champion and Wiradjuri woman, Evonne Goolagong Cawley, was the first Indigenous Australian woman to achieve international sporting fame. In 1971, Goolagong Cawley took the tennis world by storm, winning both the French Open and Wimbledon singles titles. Accepting her Australian of the Year award for 1971, she remarked: “It's something I've always wanted - to be known as an Australian. When I was younger I was always referred to as an Aboriginal tennis player.”
It is also the 20 year anniversary of the Local Hero Award which celebrates a particularly Australian idea: that small, local stories of heroism are no less noble than those which capture the national headlines.
This year's Local Hero, Amar Singh, founded Turbans 4 Australia in 2015. Turbans 4 Australia encourages the Sikh community of Australia to “help anyone in need in Australia regardless of religion, race or ethnicity”.
Young Australian of the Year for 2022, Daniel Nour founded Street Side Medics in August 2020. It's a not-for-profit, GP-led mobile medical service for people experiencing homelessness.
Today he leads a team of 250 volunteers at four clinics across the state of NSW.
All of these Australians have come from different backgrounds and different parts of Australia.
By highlighting and sharing their stories, we remind ourselves of who we are as a nation. A nation where we can come together to make change and improve lives for the many, not just the few.
To nominate go to the website at australianoftheyear.org.au, make an account and submit your nomination. It really is that easy to help write the next chapter of our national story.
Nominations close at midnight on Monday 31 July 2023.