South Australia’s 2024 Australian of the Year winners have been announced
From a biologist to a charity founder, the South Australian winners for the 2024 Australian of the Year have been announced. See who has just been crowned.
SA News
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Four trailblazers from our state have been crowned SA’s Australians of the Year for 2024.
The recipients include wildlife biologist Tiahni Adamson, environmental scientist and advocate, Timothy Jarvis AM, Sister of Mercy Sister Meredith Evans and charity founder Rachael Zaltron OAM.
The state winners were announced at a ceremony in Adelaide on Wednesday night, with each now in the running for the Australian of Year titles – announced on January 25 at the national awards.
Wildlife conservation biologist Ms Adamson, 28, who was crowned Young Australian of the Year for SA, has been a passionate pioneer for sustainability.
The Indigenous woman who graduated from University of Adelaide with a Bachelor of Science is now a community engagement officer with CH4 Global.
Ms Adamson is on the national leadership team with Seed, and advocates for the intersection of Indigenous justice, climate change and environmental conservation.
Last year, she was one of Science and Technology Australia’s Superstars of STEM.
SA’s Australian of the Year winner Tim Jarvis is a well-known environmental scientist, author, filmmaker, philanthropist and speaker.
Mr Jarvis, 57, has made a strong contribution to climate change and biodiversity loss issues while leading the Forktree Project.
He is a vice-president at Flora & Fauna, a global ambassador and governor of WWF, ambassador to Koala Life, and a board director of the Foundation for National Parks Wildlife.
This year, he played a pivotal role in securing 475,000 square kilometres of marine sanctuary off World Heritage-listed Macquarie Island.
Ms Zaltron, who was crowned Local Hero for South Australia winner, is founder of Backpacks 4 SA Kids.
The 50-year-old has made it her mission to support vulnerable and neglected children.
In 2013, Ms Zaltron, co-launched the charity organisation putting together donations for disadvantaged children.
Now, the organisation has brought on volunteers to help vulnerable children across the state and has helped over 86,000 SA children.
With Ms Zaltron’s leadership, underprivileged children aged 0 to 16 years, who are taken in to care, are given age-appropriate emergency clothing, toiletries and other necessary supplies.
Senior Australian of the Year for South Australia winner, Sister Evans, 75, has committed her life to helping vulnerable people including refugees, young people and women who are homeless, leaving violent relationships and/or prison.
In 2019, she founded the SA division of Young Mercy Links, which connects young people who are passionate about social justice, advocacy and education.
Sister Evans also played a key role in restarting the Justice for Refugees SA and the Young Christian Workers Movement in our state.
National Australia Day Council chief executive Mark Fraser AO CVO applauded the award recipients for “making contributions which help people and our environment”.
“Tim and Tiahni’s achievements are recognised on a world stage; Sister Meredith’s work know no bounds and Rachael’s foresight and action has changed lives around South Australia,” Mr Frasier said.
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