Julie-Ann Finney named The Advertiser Woman of the Year
Julie-Ann Finney is among six trailblazing South Australian women celebrated at the inaugural Woman of the Year Awards held by The Advertiser and Sunday Mail on Tuesday. Find out why...
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A grieving Adelaide mum fighting against a growing war zone of veteran suicides on home soil has been recognised for her inspirational tenacity.
Julie-Ann Finney is among six trailblazing South Australian women celebrated at the inaugural Woman of the Year Awards held by The Advertiser and Sunday Mail on Tuesday (December 3).
Ms Finney, from Blair Athol, was named Woman of the Year for her community campaign for a royal commission into the rising suicide rate among veterans – including her own son.
“I didn’t choose to be the face of this journey – it was given to me through the death of my son,” she said at the award’s event held in Adelaide.
“It’s been a journey that has stopped the grief a bit, because I get to fight for a much better path for our sons and daughters – there is still a way to go.”
She received the award hours after Opposition leader Anthony Albanese backed her push for a royal commission, saying the pleas of victims’ families must be heard.
There is now mounting pressure on Prime Minister Scott Morrison to follow the ALP’s lead.
The awards mark the 125th anniversary of the pioneering success of the South Australian suffragists who fought for the female vote, delivered by State Parliament in November 1894 – a first for the nation.
In February, Ms Finney’s 38-year-old son – David, an ex-navy sailor – took his own life after battling post-traumatic stress for many years. One Australian veteran a week is taking their own life.
Ms Finney’s petition for a royal commission on Change.org yesterday reached more than 267,540 signatures and is one of the fastest growing petitions in the seven-year history of the organisation.
She broke her silence in an exclusive story with The Advertiser on Anzac Day.
The Woman of the Year awards by The Advertiser and Sunday Mail are the culmination of a year-long celebration of SA women and their achievements, including a list of 125 SA history-makers and a second of 125 nominated by our readers.
The six award winners were short-listed from 30 nominees.
“In the film industry there are many inspiring women but there are not a lot of women in senior creative roles which we need to change,” said Leader of The Year award winner Gail Fuller from Rising Sun Pictures.
Premier Steven Marshall, at the event, said SA women had led the world in many endeavours across every plausible aspect of society.
Sunday Mail editor Jessica Leo-Kelton said the award recipients and nominees were incredibly diverse and shared the desire to make SA a better place to live, either through pioneering research, world-beating feats or other passionate pursuits. “From this foundation year, we hope to grow the field of nominees celebrated and awards canvassed as there are truly remarkable South Australian women who deserve to be celebrated.”
To view the full Year of the Woman campaign visit www.theadvertiser.com.au/ceilingsmashers
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