Australian of the Year Awards
25 January 2020
Thank you very much. It's wonderful to be here. Earlier today I was with the Ngunnawal people, the traditional owners of this land to show my respects, along with Jenny and my family, and to reflect on 60,000 years and more of Indigenous custodianship of this wonderful land. And so I want to begin tonight by acknowledging all of our Indigenous peoples. They have cared for this land before anyone else. I pay our respects to them all and I acknowledge the Ngunnawal people in particular, elders past and present and the future. I also acknowledge our veterans and our serving men and women of our defence forces and I say thank you for your service.
Normally at this event, we look to our nominees as reminders of lives of service over self, generosity over selfishness and a willingness to show courage in the face of adversity. But tonight we need no reminder. Because beyond these walls to the south, to the north, to the east and the west of our great continent, thousands of volunteers are fighting fires and reminding us what it means to be a citizen of this great nation. They, like the nominees here tonight, are demonstrating to us that our national story is one of great achievements, but also of pain, of effort, sweat. There is prosperity and there is struggle and it is a story of a people grappling with the most tenacious yet most beautiful continent on earth.
Through this long summer we have seen the unquenchable spirit of Australians. Australians rallying to each other, be they family, friends or indeed strangers. A summer of countless good deeds, great sacrifice and yes, terrible loss. Some known, some not known, but all profound. Thousands of firefighters, including those who will never return home. 3,000 army reservists who took up the call, packed their kit and left their homes. Communities, church groups, service groups who man shelters, make meals, lend a hand. Vets, wildlife workers who tended our gorgeous wildlife. And the kids of this country who gave away their pocket money to help the fireys.
These are the acts that touched us as a nation. The pharmacist in Malua Bay who stayed open so people could continue to get their scripts despite losing his own home. The Army of Angels truck convoy made up of farmers, mechanics, tree loppers, beekeepers, delivering essential supplies across Victoria. The all-Indigenous, all-female firefighting crew at East Gippsland. It wasn't the first time. They previously fought the Black Saturday bushfires all those years ago. And one of their vehicles is a piece of artwork that's simply called ‘Working Together’. That is a motto for our times.
These are the stories of who we are, of what makes Australians Australian. And that is also what we celebrate tonight as we gather to honour and to name our Australian of the Year and the many other recognitions tonight. But I'm sure, having met with them today, that all of our nominees would agree with me tonight to share that time with all of those who have so selflessly served during this past year.
So tonight I say to all the heroes, not just to the bushfires, but the floods of a year ago and our terrible drought that has ravaged our country - you are all Australians of the year. Once again, this year's nominees embody a good and generous and courageous group of people who I have had the privilege to meet. You've explored new ideas, you've broken new ground, you've inspired, you’ve led and you've lived out the best of Australia's values.
So just let me congratulate you on behalf of Jenny and I and to thank everyone nominated tonight and their family and their friends whose support they have received over so many years. You've done tremendous work. You've helped make Australia an even better place and we're so proud of you all. Thank you for everything you've done for Australia.
