South Australia’s nominees for 2018 Australian on the Year
SOUTH Australia’s nominees for the 2018 Australian of the Year awards have been announced — here’s who could take the top honour.
A GROUNDBREAKING surgeon, two pioneering scientists and an engineer trying to change the way we think about transport are the South Australian nominees for the 2018 Australian of the Year awards.
The South Australian of the Year will be announced on October 30 and become the state’s entrant in January’s Australian of the Year awards.
The nominees are cranio-facial surgeon Professor David David; Dr Nigel Farrow, who became a medical scientist after his daughter was born with cystic fibrosis; neural and artificial intelligence specialist Dr Fiona Kerr; and Nick Jones, who wants to change perceptions about transport that uses renewable energy.
National Australia Day Council chief executive Jenny Barbour said the South Australian nominees were among 130 Australians being recognised at the state level in the Australian of the Year awards.
“The South Australian award nominees are making great contributions to our society and their stories show us how we can all make a difference,” she said.
The four nominees for senior South Australian of the Year are 69-year-old children’s songwriter Peter Combe; well-known natural history sculptor Silvio Albert Apponyi, 68; domestic violence campaigner Glyn Scott, 72; and Barbara Spriggs, 65, a driving force in exposing the abuse and neglect at the Oaken aged-care centre.
Nominees for Young South Australian of the Year are Iraqi refugee Mohammad al-Khafaji, who is working to bring refugees closer to the community; indigenous role model and cancer survivor Kyran Dixon; juvenile arthritis advocate Sarah Hammond; and justice campaigner Airdre Mattner.