Jan 152023
Australian of the Year Award – 1975 to 1960

Presented annually, the Australian of the Year Award recognises people who have made exceptional contributions to their communities, the nation, and the world.

AUSTRALIAN OF THE YEAR Award recognises people who inspire us through their achievements to be better, do better. They have become role models in our communities challenging us to contribute in our own way to making Australia and the world a better place.

Every year the national Australian of the Year Awards are awarded on Australia Day. The Australian of the Year Awards started in 1960 and is a program of the National Australia Day Council

Present to 1991 … 1990 to 1976 … 1975 to 1960

Award
Year
NameBornDiedA little bit about them . . .
1975Alan Stretton1922 Major General of Australia Army, commander of the Cyclone Tracy Relief Operation, (1974)
1975John Cornforth1917 Scientist, 1975 Nobel Prize in Chemistry recipient, became completely deaf by the age of 20 due to the progressive disease otosclerosis
1974Bernard Heinze1894-1982Orchestra conductor and musician, conducted Melbourne Symphony for over 20 years, helped pioneer classical music broadcasting in Australia, promoted Australian composers, oldest to receive Australian of the Year
1973Patrick White1912-1990Australian novelist awarded Nobel Prize in Literature in 1973 and Miles Franklin Award (1957, 1961)
1972Shane Gould1956 Olympic swimmer; 3 gold, 1 silver, 1 bronze medal in 1972 Summer Olympics
1971Evonne Goolagong1951 Tennis champion, first Indigenous Australian woman to achieve international sporting fame, member Wiradjuri people, in 1971 won both French Open & Wimbledon
1970Norman Gilroy1896-1977First Australian-born Cardinal of the Roman Catholic Church
1969Richard Casey1890-1976Governor-General of Australia (1965–1969), 1st Australian Ambassador to the USA (1940), WWI served at Gallipoli and awarded the Military Cross
1968Lionel Rose1948-2011World champion boxer, won the World Bantamweight Title in 1968, first Indigenous Australian to be named Australian of the Year
1967The Seekers  Chart topping singing group (Georgy Girl), only group to be named joint Australians of the Year
1966Jack Brabham1926 Australian race car driver, Formula One champion (1959, 1960, 1966)
1965Robert Helpmann1909-1986Actor, ballet dancer, producer and choreographer, Deputy Director of the Australian Ballet
1964Dawn Fraser1937 Triple Olympic gold medallist swimmer (1956, 1960, 1964) 4 gold medals at the 1962 Commonwealth Games, held 27 individual world records,
1963John Eccles1903-1997Neurophysiologist, 1963 Nobel Prize in Medicine co-recipient, co-author The Self and It’s Brain (1977)
1962Jock Sturrock1915-1997America’s Cup skipper and champion yachtsman, won over 400 national and state yachting championships
1961Joan Sutherland1926-2010Leading opera singer, Luciano Pavarotti called her the “Voice of the Century”
1960Macfarlane Burnet1899-1985Virologist, co-recipient 1960 Nobel Prize for Medicine, first person named Australian of the Year (1960)

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