MEDIA RELEASE
WEDNESDAY 2 NOVEMBER 2022
Nominees for the 2023 South Australia Australian of the Year Awards include soccer players leading the way for change, a woman dedicated to helping pets, a body image activist, a zoologist and foster care advocate.
They are just some of the 16 people in the running to be named the South Australia Australian of the Year, South Australia Senior Australian of the Year, South Australia Young Australian of the Year and South Australia Local Hero.
The 2023 South Australia award nominees are:
South Australia Australian of the Year
Taryn Brumfitt – Body image activist, director, writer and speaker (Cumberland Park)
Professor Christopher Daniels – Environmentalist, zoologist and science communicator (Belair)
Andrea Madeley – Lawyer and workplace safety advocate (Williamstown)
Marie Shaw KC – Philanthropist and co-founder, Ice Factor program (Brompton)
South Australia Senior Australian of the Year
Margaret Fischer AM – Co-founder, Feast Adelaide Queer Arts & Cultural Festival (Hahndorf)
Sandra Miller – Aboriginal rights activist, advocate for Indigenous health and welfare (Glandore)
Eric Siggurs – Volunteer, Technology for Ageing and Disability SA (Greenacres)
Eugenia Tsoulis OAM – CEO, Australian Migrant Resource Centre; founding member, Settlement Council Australia (Adelaide)
South Australia Young Australian of the Year
Josh Cavallo – Professional soccer player and equality champion (Walkerville)
Felicity Graham – Author, advocate and CEO, Fostering Change Australia (Glengowrie)
Zainab Kazemi – Multicultural advocate and volunteer (Salisbury)
Awer Mabil – Professional soccer player and co-founder, Barefoot to Boots (Walkley Heights)
South Australia Local Hero
Neil Davis – Keynote speaker and co-founder, Sammy D Foundation (Woodcroft)
Elizabeth Habermann – Voluntary assisted dying advocate (Wudinna)
Christine Robertson – Co-founder, Lost Pets of South Australia and creator, Chipblitz program (Ridleyton)
Marigold White – Co-founder, Uniity (Adelaide)
The South Australia nominees are among 130 people being recognised across all states and territories.
The four award recipients from South Australia will be announced on Thursday 10 November 2022 in a ceremony at the Adelaide Convention Centre in Adelaide, which will also be available to watch via ABC iView from 7:00pm (local Adelaide time).
They will then join the other state and territory recipients as national finalists for the national awards announcement on 25 January 2023 in Canberra.
National Australia Day Council CEO Karlie Brand congratulated the nominees on their recognition.
“The 2023 South Australian nominees are extraordinary people making an impact for others,” said Karlie.
“They show us what a diverse community South Australia has and how everyone can make a difference.”
20 Years Of Local Heroes
The 2023 Awards also mark 20 years of the Local Hero category. Introduced in 2003, the award acknowledges extraordinary contributions made by Australians in their local community.
There is yet to be a South Australian awarded Australia’s Local Hero…. could 2023 be the year?
ENDS.
Nominee bios can be viewed on the homepage of australianoftheyear.org.au.
Nominee photos can be downloaded from this link (note all photos provided by nominees):
https://www.dropbox.com/scl/fo/11ei6g1704ocou2yohr3e/h?dl=0&rlkey=cxdg3igtipgem5qf6kkpqgeyy