The Australian of the Year is set to be announced tomorrow with a slate of high-profile Aussies competing for the honour – from wheelchair tennis champion Dylan Alcott to the parents of domestic violence victim Hannah Clarke.
Eight finalists, one each from Australia’s states and territories, have each been nominated for the role, ranging from campaigners and researchers and professional athletes.
The winner will be announced at 7.30pm on Tuesday evening on ABC TV. Here, Daily Mail Australia takes a look at the contenders for the title.
Dylan Alcott (Victoria)
Victoria’s nomination for the prestigious award is Dylan Alcott, a 23-time quad wheelchair Grand Slam champion and advocate for Australians with disabilities.
Alcott made a cross-code switch to tennis after enjoying a decorated career in basketball and is competing and commentating at the 2022 Australian Open.
Victoria’s nomination for the prestigious award is Dylan Alcott, (pictured) a 23-time quad wheelchair Grand Slam champion and advocate for Australians with disabilities
He thanked his parents after playing Dutch teenager Niels Vink on Sunday night, saying: ‘I hated myself growing up and the reason I don’t is them’.
The 31-year-old recently became the first male in history in any form of tennis to win the Golden Slam and is a well-regarded TV, radio and podcast guest.
The athlete has also founded the Dylan Alcott Foundation which provides scholarships and grant funding to marginalised Australians with a disability.
Sue and Lloyd Clarke (Queensland)
Queensland’s nomination for the top honour is Sue and Lloyd Clarke – the parents of Hannah Clarke who in 2019 was killed by her ex-partner Rowan Baxter alongside their three children Aaliyah, 6, Laianah, 4, and Trey, 3.
Baxter ambushed his family during a school run on February 19, dousing the car in petrol and burning her and their children alive.
He then killed himself while trying to stop heroic neighbours from dousing the flames – leaving Sue and Lloyd Clarke without their daughter and grandchildren.
The grief-stricken pair has since established the Small Steps 4 Hannah foundation to help others better understand family and domestic violence.
Queensland’s nomination for the top honour is Sue and Lloyd Clarke (pictured) – the parents of Hannah Clarke who in 2019 was killed by her ex-partner Rowan Baxter alongside their three children Aaliyah, 6, Laianah, 4, and Trey, 3
The Clarkes’ have also worked with the Queensland Government to establish the Women’s Safety and Justice Taskforce to give victims a voice in court.
Their advocacy for legislative change in the justice system and the criminalisation of coercive control in Queensland is being done to honour their daughter.
Professor Helen Marshall (South Australia)
South Australia’s nomination is vaccine researcher Professor Helen Marshall, whose research into meningococcal B has had a global impact.
The researcher also provided vital advice about Covid-19 to the South Australian Minister for Health and the Chief Public Health Officer during the pandemic.
South Australia’s nomination is vaccine researcher Professor Helen Marshall (pictured) whose research into meningococcal B has had a global impact
Professor Veena Sahajwalla
Professor Veena Sahajwalla is the nomination from NSW in the running to be crowned Australian of the Year – put forward for her research into waste.
The materials scientist, engineer and inventor has worked to turn waste into green materials and products and is best-known for her invention of ‘Green Steel’.
Ms Sahajwalla is the Founding Director of the Centre for Sustainable Materials Research and Technology at the University of NSW.
Patty Mills (ACT)
The ACT’s nomination is Patrick (Patty) Mills, professional basket-baller, four-time Olympian and Indigenous rights advocate.
The decorated athlete is the founder of the Team Mills Foundation – an organisation dedicated to celebrating culture and diversity.
Mills has also launched Indigenous Basketball Australia which invites Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Youth to partake in competitions and motivational programs.
The ACT’s nomination is Patrick (Patty) Mills, professional basket-baller, four-time Olympian and Indigenous rights advocate (pictured)
Leanne Liddle (NT)
From the Northern Territory, Leanne Liddle has been put forward for the top honour, for her work as the Director of the Aboriginal Justice Unit.
She was South Australia’s first Aboriginal policewoman with the role exposing her to racism that pushed her to seek justice for Indigenous people.
Ms Liddle was a key player in creating the Northern Territory Aboriginal Justice Agreement which aims to improve the quality of life for Aboriginal Territorians.
Craig Leeson (Tasmania)
From Tasmania, documentary filmmaker and journalist Craig Leeson has been nominated for the award for his stirring film A Plastic Ocean.
Mr Leeson co-founded A Plastic Oceans Australasia which works to improve education about plastic pollution within a generation.
His film The Latest Glaciers will be on screens in March 2022 and looks at the impact of climate change from an international lens.
Paul Litherland (WA)
Finally, cyber safety educator and campaigner Paul Litherland is the candidate from WA, who after working as a police officer realised the dangers of the internet.
He has become one of Australia’s leading experts in the field of cyber security and has spoken at more than 550 schools and organisations across the country.
The ex-police officer has educated up to 250,000 students, teachers and parents through his business Surf Online Safe on internet awareness and safety.
Grace Tame, activist and advocate for survivors of sexual assault, received the title of the 2021 Australian of the Year and has since called for legal and social reform.
Grace Tame, activist and advocate for survivors of sexual assault, received the title of the 2021 Australian of the Year and has since called for legal and social reform (pictured)
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