Six of the eight finalists for the 2015 Australian of the Year Award are women – the highest number of female finalists in the category since the State and Territory award process was introduced in 2003.
They include Deborra-lee Furness (NSW), Rosie Batty (VIC), Hetty Johnston AM (QLD), Professor Lyn Beazley AO (WA), Dr Gill Hicks MBE (SA) and Rosalie Kunoth-Monks OAM (NT). They join Rodney Croome AM (TAS) and Glenn Keys (ACT).
Other categories are Senior Australian of the Year, Young Australian of the Year and Australia’s Local Hero. Of the 32 finalists across all four award categories, 17 are women.
“All the Australian of the Year Award national finalists are remarkable people making a real difference to our nation,” said Jeremy Lasek, CEO of the National Australia Day Council.
“It’s wonderful to see so many women among the finalists in all four Award categories and across the board it’s great to recognise Australians whose strength of character, courage, achievements and vision are making Australia a better place.
“The national finalists represent the diversity of Australian society, with five finalists of Aboriginal or Torres Strait Island background and six finalists who were born overseas and emigrated to Australia.
“Their contributions and achievements are also widely varied – ranging across science, human and equal rights advocacy, community leadership, medicine, volunteering, breaking down barriers and setting new benchmarks – but they are all inspirational Australians.”
The national winners will be announced in Canberra on January 25, 2015.
