South Australia salutes its Pride of Australia winners
YOU will rarely meet such dedicated, selfless and heroic people as our 11 Pride of Australia winners in any community. That’s why we salute these amazing heroes, who have emerged from everyday walks of life.
A DAD making it his mission to find a cure for Cystic Fibrosis, a man who risked his own life to save another from a burning truck and a sick little girl who is fighting for her life but continues to help others.
They are South Australia’s real heroes, the inspirational mums, dads, grandpas and sisters selflessly dedicating their lives to helping others.
These 11 people are the winners of this year’s Pride of Australia Awards, proudly organised by News Corp, publisher of The Advertiser.
There wasn’t a dry eye in the house — a little laughter and plenty of emotion — as they gave humble speech upon speech at the official awards ceremony on Wednesday as 31 finalists gathered to recognise their achievements.
It’s obvious people like Rowland Williams, of Globe Derby Park, are not used to the limelight but they deserve to be thanked.
The 58-year-old was awarded the medal for Outstanding Bravery for his heroic efforts in saving another man’s life from a burning truck wreckage.
“I’m caramel,” he laughed, as fought back tears on stage.
Mr Williams was in the other truck when the crash happened and was momentarily knocked unconscious. But that didn’t stop his will to save a complete stranger.
“I looked at the burning truck and saw a hand ... and knew I had to do something,” he said.
For other winners like dad Nigel Farrow, 45, of Redwood Park, it was a father’s fierce love and devotion for his daughter, Ella, 12, diagnosed with the life threatening condition Cystic Fibrosis, which compelled him to make it his life’s work to find a cure.
He gave up a successful career in music and then studied two medical science degrees, a Masters and PhD so he could work as a gene therapist using stem cells to try and figure out a way to save his daughter’s life.
“I believe we have a path to a cure,” he said in his acceptance speech.
Each story was as moving as the next.
Child of Courage winner Chelsea George, 10, of Murray Bridge, was too sick to make it to Wednesday’s event, in Sydney receiving cutting edge treatment as she continues her fight with leukaemia.
A whole room of people was praying for her speedy recovery as her dad Tony and brother Bailey, 7, accepted the medal on her behalf.
“She’ll be rapt,” Mr George said, of his daughter’s efforts in helping others despite being so sick.
“She just wants to help others, anyone who is down on their luck or has been isolated, she is just drawn to them.”
As the emotional ceremony came to an end, People’s Choice Medal winner Daljit Rao summed the feeling of the day up perfectly as she accepted the final award.
“I’d like to congratulate everyone who is here — all the finalists are all winners,” she said.
