What is Australian of the Year?
The '''Australian of the Year''' is an [[award]] presented on [[Australia Day]] (26 January) every year to an important Australian. The awards began in 1960 and are supported by the [[Australian government]] and several major companies.<ref name=furphy>{{cite web |url=http://www.australianoftheyear.org.au/the-awards/awards-history/an-overview/ |title=Australian of the Year Awards |first=Dr. Samuel |last=Furphy |work=australianoftheyear.org.au |year=2013 |access-date=23 July 2013 |archive-date=11 May 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130511095103/http://www.australianoftheyear.org.au/the-awards/awards-history/an-overview/ |url-status=dead }}</ref> The awards are given by the National Australia Day Council. Over the years it has grown to include the Young Australian of the Year and the Senior Australian of the Year. An award to honor people at a local community level has also been developed as the Australian Local Hero.<ref name=furphy/> The first Australian of the Year was [[Nobel Prize]] winner, [[Frank Macfarlane Burnet|Sir Macfarlane Burnet]]. ==Related pages== *[[List of Australian of the Year Award recipients]] ==References== {{reflist}} {{stub}} [[Category:Orders, decorations, and medals of Australia]] [[Category:1960 establishments in Australia]]