Australian of the Year Awards Nominations Open

Nominations for the Australian of the Year Awards 2010 will be officially opened on Wednesday 1 July 2009 at a launch in Darwin.

National Australia Day Council Chairman Adam Gilchrist, Judith Durham OAM (Australian of the Year – The Seekers 1967) and Catherine Freeman OAM, who is the only person to be named both Young Australian of the Year (1990) and Australian of the Year (1998) will be present at the launch to call on nominations from the public.

At the official launch, Cathy Freeman will take part in a tandem skydive with a giant Australian flag to land on the beach outside the Darwin Trailer Boat Club and deliver the first nomination for this year’s awards to Gilchrist.

The 2010 awards will mark the 50th anniversary of the Australian of the Year Awards, with inspirational names such as Prof Fred Hollows, Kay Cottee, Robert de Castella, Sir Edward ‘Weary’ Dunlop, Sir Robert Helpmann, Arthur Boyd, Dame Joan Sutherland, Lee Kernaghan, Dawn Fraser, Sir Gustav Nossal and Dr Fiona Wood among the honour roll.

There are four award categories in which you can nominate a great Australian:

• Australian of the Year – open to all Australians who deserve recognition for their extraordinary achievements, contributions to the community and nation and who are inspirational role models to all Australians;

• Senior Australian of the Year – recognises those Australians aged 60 years and over who continue to achieve and contribute to the community;

• Young Australian of the Year – recognises those extraordinary young Australians aged 16 – 30 years;

• Australia’s Local Hero – recognises Australians who make a real difference in their local communities and whose outstanding contributions enrich the lives of those around them.

Nominating is simple – you can complete a nomination form online at www.australianoftheyear.org.au or pick up a nomination form from Major Sponsor the Commonwealth Bank or call 1300 655 193 for more information.

Nominations will close Monday 31 August 2009.

Source: National Australia Day Council