Apart from having a day off work, listening to Triple J’s Hottest 100 countdown and eating too many lamb chops, there is one other tradition that we Aussie folk love about the Australia Day celebrations… finding out who has been named Australian of the Year.
And this year, the honours go to equality advocate and former Army Chief David Morrison AO.
Taking over the reins from domestic violence campaigner Rosie Batty, Mr Morrison – one of eight worthy national finalists – was named the Australian of the Year by Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull at a ceremony on the lawns of Canberra’s Parliament House this evening.
The former Lieutenant-General Morrison campaigned for diversity and against sexism in the armed forces and loudly called out behaviour that was demeaning to women during his time as Chief of Army, a position from which he retired in May 2015.
Following a 2013 scandal involving army personnel distributing explicit emails denigrating women, Morrison said in a much lauded video that he was committed to making the Army an inclusive force, telling troops: “If that does not suit you, then get out. You may find another employer where your attitude and behaviour is acceptable, but I doubt it… There is no place for you amongst this band of brothers and sisters.”
His tough-talking video went viral, receiving international coverage.
You can watch it here (post continues after video):
Top Comments
I'm very happy with this bloke receiving the honour. He seems a really good sort: very honest, decent and practical. Maybe it's partly a military officer thing but the guy's main drive seems to be that he wants everyone to operate from their optimum (or "best self" if you're Oprah). It's positive.
(Would've been equally happy with MacGregor, the NT Youth Worker.)
I really wish the Council had chosen either the surgeon or the youth worker, instead of Morrison who gave a 'stirring speech' at the UN and that was about it. I have to laugh though, that the Senior Australian of the Year is 67 and hardly on his last legs in a nursing home. Surely, his hard work within the community would have made eligible for the Australian of the Year Award instead of an age discrimatory second prize?