MEDIA RELEASE
FRIDAY 27 OCTOBER 2023
2024 AUSTRALIAN OF THE YEAR AWARD NOMINEES FOR QUEENSLAND ANNOUNCED
A world-record-breaking shearer, the co-founder of a dinosaur museum, the most successful Australian Olympian of all time, advocates against domestic violence, a mental health charity founder and a community theatre organist are among nominees for the 2024 Australian of the Year Awards for Queensland.
The 2024 award nominees are:
2024 Australian of the Year for Queensland
Benjamin Bjarnesen BM - Speaker, educator and advocate against domestic violence (Brisbane)
Geraldine Blackwell - Founder, Youth Development Foundation (Strathpine)
Marco Renai - Founder, Men of Business (Gold Coast)
Adjunct Professor Adam Scott - Innovator in medicine and founder, White Cloud Foundation (Indooroopilly)
2024 Senior Australian of the Year for Queensland
Reverend Robyn and Reverend Dr Lindsay Burch - Founders, Havafeed Relief (Gold Coast)
Martin Corkery - Rotarian and philanthropist (Hendra)
Ted Kearney - Soccer referee coach (retired) (Brisbane)
Ronald West - Organist and former theatre owner (Cooran)
2024 Young Australian of the Year for Queensland
Toby Hendy - Science communicator, Youtuber and filmmaker
Emma McKeon AM – Olympian (Labrador)
Curtis Rayment - Founder, It’s a Man’s Issue (Townsville)
Grace Sholl - Mental health advocate and aspiring psychologist (Logan)
2024 Local Hero for Queensland
Laurie Bateman - Constable, Queensland Police Service and world-record-breaking sheep shearer (Palm Island)
Bradley Crosbie - Founder, WYLD Projects Indigenous Corporation (Bundaberg)
David Elliott OAM - Co-founder, Australian Age of Dinosaurs Museum of Natural History (Winton)
Vanessa Fowler OAM - Founder, Allison Baden-Clay Foundation (Ipswich)
The Queensland nominees are among 133 people being recognised across all states and territories.
The Queensland award recipients will be announced on Wednesday 8 November 2023 in a ceremony in Brisbane, which will also be available to watch online at australianoftheyear.org.au.
They will then join the other state and territory recipients as national finalists for the national awards announcement on Thursday 25 January 2024 in Canberra.
National Australia Day Council CEO Mark Fraser AO CVO congratulated the Queensland nominees on their recognition.
“The nominees for the Queensland awards come from all walks of life and many different areas of endeavour and contribution,” said Mark.
“They remind us all of what we can do when we make a decision to take action, make a stand, lend a hand or strive for a goal. They remind us we are all capable of being extraordinary.”
ENDS.
Nominee bios can also be viewed on the australianoftheyear.org.au homepage.
Nominee photos can be downloaded from this link: QLD Nominee Photos
MEDIA CONTACT: Nicole Browne 0414 673 762 or nicole@mediaopps.com.au