Australians of all ages and from all walks of life shall be honoured on the Australian of the Year Awards in Canberra tonight.
Guests have begun arriving on the National Arboretum for the awards ceremony, held annually on January 25.
The esteemed group had been welcomed to the National Arboretum in Canberra with a smoking ceremony earlier than strolling onto the pink carpet on the entrance to the constructing.
Outgoing Australian of the Year Dylan Alcott was the primary to reach.
Dressed in all black with matching sun shades, the wheelchair tennis champion and incapacity advocate joked as he arrived: “Am I on the list?”
Speaking to reporters on the pink carpet, Mr Alcott shared some recommendation for his successor in 2023.
“Number one, be yourself. I still don’t know why I’m Australian of the Year, but there’s a reason for it.
“Two, enjoy it.
“And three, it’s not just about you. It’s about amplifying the voices of what you’re passionate about and the people that you care about in your community.”
Mr Alcott was adopted by the nominees for every of this yr’s award classes, lots of whom walked down the pink carpet with a mixture of nerves and pleasure.
Former Socceroo and human rights advocate Craig Foster, who could possibly be the following Australian of the Year after being named the NSW winner, stated it had been “amazing” to satisfy the opposite state and territory recipients.
“It’s been wonderful to get to know them and, and there’s already some collaborations happening,” Mr Foster stated exterior the Arboretum.
“And as I said this afternoon, I think whoever wins any of the categories tonight, Australia can feel very comfortable that they’re well served by the Australians of the Year.”
The long-time Aboriginal rights campaigner, who is without doubt one of the architects of the Voice, stated the proposed advisory physique would profit each Indigenous and non-Indigenous Australians.
“It is something that is long overdue, and it’s something that you know, it’s not a third chamber of parliament,” he stated.
“It’s not going to have any veto rights or anything like that. But it’s good common sense.”
A number of of the nominees for the Young Australian of the Year Award had been unable to make it to the ceremony in Canberra, together with musician Genesis Owusu and Socceroo Awer Mabil, whose households attended on their behalf.
But essentially the most notable absence was Olympian Peter Bol, named Western Australia’s Young Australian of the Year earlier than he allegedly examined constructive to a banned efficiency enhancing substance.
The 28-year-old 800m runner, who positioned fourth on the Tokyo Olympics, maintains his innocence and his authorized group have stated they’ll battle to clear his title.
Anthony Albanese will announce the Young Australian of the Year; Senior Australian of the Year; Australian of the Year; and Australia’s Local Hero for 2023.
Each of the 32 finalists throughout the 4 classes had been winners of their respective state or territory after being nominated for the awards by members of their native communities.
They would possibly come from totally different backgrounds, generations and elements of the nation, however every of them exemplifies the easiest of what it means to be an Australian.
The individual named the general Australian of the Year will take over from tennis champion and incapacity advocate Dylan Alcott, who adopted one other high-profile recipient and advocate, Grace Tame, in 2021.
Human rights activist and former Socceroo Craig Foster, insect farming pioneer Olympia Yarger and physique picture activist Taryn Brumfitt are all among the many nominees on this class for 2023.
Earlier on Wednesday, the Prime Minister hosted a morning tea for this yr’s finalists together with his accomplice Jodie Haydon at The Lodge in Canberra the place he thanked the 4 outgoing awards recipients for 2022.
“Can I say on behalf of all Australians, thank you for the service and inspiration you gave to our nation in your roles,” Mr Albanese stated.
“You have set a very high bar – and provided a remarkable and inspirational example for those who will follow.”
Mr Albanese stated it had been a real pleasure to get to know final yr’s winners — Valmai Dempsey, Daniel Nour, Shanna Whan and Alcott.
He thanked every of them for taking up the accountability that comes with being an Australian of the Year with “passion, enthusiasm and endless good humour”.
Mr Albanese will give one other speech on the National Arboretum earlier than saying the 2023 winners.
More to come back
