Gold winning Paralympian Kurt Fearnley named NSW Australian of the Year for 2019
GOLD winning Paralympian Kurt Fearnley has been named as the NSW Australian of the Year for his advocacy work and athletic achievements. Winners of the Young Australian of the Year, Senior Australian of the Year and Local Hero were also announced.
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GOLD winning Paralympian Kurt Fearnley has been named as the NSW Australian of the Year for his advocacy work and athletic achievements.
The 37-year-old wheelchair racer was presented the award at the Museum of Contemporary Art on Monday night, where awards were also given to the NSW Senior Australian of the Year, NSW Young Australian of the Year and the NSW Local Hero.
Mr Fearnley, who began his acceptance speech by asking the Premier Gladys Berejiklian if she was sure he was the winner, said he was grateful for the award.
“I’m a proud Australian (and) I’m a proud man with a disability,” he said.
“I feel a little unworthy to win with these nominees here. Although I may feel unworthy right now I’ll do everything I can to justify this moment.”
Mr Fearnley, who was born without part of his spine, has represented Australia for over 20 years at five Paralympic Games, winning three gold medals among his 13 medal haul.
The Novocastrian is active in advocacy work, championing the rights of people with disabilities and advocating for their access into communities and workplaces.
The 2019 NSW Young Australian of the Year was also named with 30-year-old social entrepreneur Jarrod Wheatley of Surry Hills winning the award for his work in founding two not-for-profit organisations.
One of the organisations founded by Mr Wheatley, Professional Individualised Care (PIC) provides a new model of out-of-home care for children deemed too traumatised for foster home placement.
PIC gives these children the opportunity to be cared for in the home of a Professional Therapeutic Carer, all of whom are qualified and experienced to deal with children who have high needs behaviour and attachment issues.
Heather Lee OAM, 91, was named as the NSW Senior Australian of the Year for her athletic achievements, including breaking three Australian records in various race-walking events at the Australian Masters Track and Field Championships.
Sophie Smith, 48, of Coogee won the NSW Local Hero award for founding the Running for Premature Babies Foundation which has raised over $3 million for lifesaving neonatal equipment and research.
The winners will represent NSW in Canberra next January where the four Australians of the Year will be chosen among the winners from the 32 State and Territory recipients from around the country.
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