Grace Tame features in the Tasmanian australians of the Year for her work on #LetHerSpeak
Four outstanding Tasmanians have been announced as our Australians of the Year – and while Grace Tame and her work on the #LetHerSpeak is no surprise, there are a few others. SEE THE FULL LIST >>
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FOUR outstanding Tasmanians have been announced as the Tasmanian Australians of the Year Award recipients – and while GraceTame’s work on #LetHerSpeak is no surprise, there are a few others.
WINNERS:
2021 Tasmanian Australian of the Year – Grace Tame (Bellerive, Hobart)
2021 Tasmanian Senior Australian of the Year – Brian Williams (Blackmans Bay, Hobart)
2021 Tasmanian Young Australian of the Year – Toby Thorpe (Huonville)
2021 Tasmanian Local Hero – Edna Pennicott OAM (Kingston, Hobart)
Tasmanian of the Year is #LetHerSpeak campaigner Grace Tame.
From 15, Ms Tame was groomed and rape by her 58-year-old maths teacher.
Though the man was found guilty and was jailed, under Tasmania’s sexual assault victim gag laws Ms Tame was legally unable to speak out about her experience.
Working with the #LetHerSpeak campaign, she applied to the Supreme Court to win the right to publicly self-identify as a rape survivor, becoming the first Tasmanian woman to do so.
Aged 25, Ms Tame is now a regular guest speaker for high-profile events and uses her platform to advocate for other vulnerable people in the community.
Tasmanian Senior Australian of the year is Scout Leader and mentor Brian Williams.
For more than 50 years, 73-year-old Mr Williams has been a highly respected mentor to thousands of youth as a Scout Leader.
Under his leadership, the Blackmans Bay Scout Group has become one of the largest and most successful in the state.
He organised the inaugural Australian Venture in Launceston, which brought together young people from across Australia and the world for 12 days of activities.
Mr Williams is also deputy chair on the A Day on The Beach committee.
Tasmanian Young Australian of the Year is youth empowerment and climate action advocate Toby Thorpe.
Aged just 18, Mr Thorpe is a passionate advocate for Huonville High School became the second Australian winner of the international Zayed Sustainability Prize through his initiatives, launching Tasmanian as a global leader in renewable energy innovation.
He organised the first statewide climate leaders conference in three Tasmanian cities, attracting more than 350 students.
Mr Thorpe has twice led the Tasmanian Youth Delegation as part of the United Nations Climate Change Conference, working tirelessly to enable students to meet with both Australian Government representatives and international changemakers such as Greta Thunberg.
He is executive director at the Climate Justice Initiative, which runs in-school workshops to help young people make a positive impact.
Tasmanian Local Hero is Kingborough Helping Hands founder Edna Pennicott OAM.
Kingborough Helping Hnads delivers care packages of food and essential items to community members who have fallen on hard times.
Ms Pennicott, 73, collects these goods herself and personally delivers many of the packages.
Over Christmas, she organises the packing and delivery of about 250 hampers and 300 children’s presents for families in need.
Through the initiative she also supports several women’s shelters, and operates an after-hours mobile van service offering hot food and support to those sleeping rough.
National Australia Day Council CEO Karlie Brand congratulated Tasmania’s award recipients.
“The 2021 Tasmanian Australians of the Year are extraordinary people,” she said.
“Their courage, passion, commitment and sense of duty are inspirational.”
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