2017 SA AUSTRALIAN OF THE YEAR FINALISTS |

FINALISTS ANNOUNCED:

An educator, a cycling safety champion, community contributors, an agriculturalist and a fashion designer are among the finalists in the 2017 South Australia Australian of the Year Awards.

The South Australian Award finalists announced today are in the running to be named 2017 South Australia Australian of the Year, South Australia Senior Australian of the Year, South Australia Young Australian of the Year and Southern Australia Local Hero.

The 2017 South Australia Award finalists are listed below. I feel extraordinarily humbled I have been listed for the second year in a row as a Finalist in SA .

2017 SA AUSTRALIAN OF THE YEAR

Kate Swaffer – Dementia advocate (Burnside)
Zita Ngor – Community Advocate (Salisbury Heights)
Professor Emeritus Alan Reid AM – Educator (Malvern)
Dr Philip Tideman – Cardiologist (Wattle Park)

2017 SA SENIOR AUSTRALIAN OF THE YEAR

Patricia Buckskin – Educator (Para Hills West)
Nouha Jaber – Community volunteer (Linden Park)
Vilmos Milisits OAM – Businessman and philanthropist (Unley Park)
Mary Safe – Cycling safety champion (West Lakes)

2017 SA YOUNG AUSTRALIAN OF THE YEAR

Mathew D’Onofrio – Health and safety entrepreneur (Unley)
William Russell – Anti-bullying crusader (Findon)
Amy Rust – Champion for homeless women (Seaview Downs)
Paul Vasileff – Fashion designer (Seaton)

2017 SA LOCAL HERO

Caz Bosch – Volunteer (Millswood)
Linda Fisk – Women prisoners advocate (Wellend)
Reginald George Heading – Agriculturalist (St Peters)
Sarah Powell – Rural community champion (Wharminda)

South Australia’s Australian of the Year, Senior Australian of the Year, Young Australian of the Year and Local Hero Award recipients will be announced on Tuesday, 8 November 2016 at the Adelaide Oval in Adelaide.

The South Australian Award recipients will then join recipients from all other States and Territories as finalists for the national awards, which will be held in Canberra on 25 January 2017.

National Australia Day Council CEO, Mr Chris Kirby, said the South Australia Award finalists are among 131 great Australians being recognised as State and Territory finalists in the Australian of the Year Awards.

“The Australian of the Year Awards allow us to recognise and celebrate the achievements of outstanding Australians – people making extraordinary contributions to our society,” said Mr Kirby.

“The South Australian Award finalists reflect the diversity of the state and the many ways in which people are inspiring others through their contributions. From helping others to forging a path in business to literally saving lives, the finalists are making a remarkable impact.”

Commonwealth Bank has been a major sponsor of the Australian of the Year Awards for 37 years.

“We are proud to support the Australian of the Year Awards, a national program that showcases the Australian spirit,” said Mr Ian Narev, Chief Executive Officer of the Commonwealth Bank.

“Thank you to all of the State and Territory finalists, who have all have made an important contribution to their communities through their achievements.”

Read about all of the 2017 AOTY Finalists