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Have you ever wondered how and why someone becomes the Australian of the Year ?

A free Public Forum featuring Western Australia's all four Australian of the Year Awards recipients is being presented by the Australia Day Council of Western Australia at The University of Western Australia's Octagon Theatre on June 9.

This forum will give you the opportunity to meet and hear first-hand from four brilliant West Australians and is open to anyone to attend free of charge.  Parents and teachers are encouraged to take students along so they can learn from these wonderful role models.

2013 Senior Australian of the Year - Fred Chaney AO (UWA graduate) together with WA Australian of the Year - Prof Bruce Robinson AM (UWA Winthrop Professor of medicine), WA Young Australian of the Year - Dr John van Bockxmeer (UWA graduate), and WA Local Hero - Denise Smith-Ali will provide an insight into the incredible work and commitment they undertook which led to them receiving their recognition.

Ray Wardrop, CEO of the Australia Day Council of WA said "This is the first time we have been able to present our four WA Australians of the Year at a free public forum and we're excited to offer such an opportunity for anyone to enjoy. And by attending, people may also be inspired to nominate someone they know for the next year's Australian of the Year award."

Anyone interested in attending the forum is encouraged to register early to secure their seats as numbers are limited.

For more information and to register for your seats please go to www.ausdaywa.com.au

Monday, 9 June 2014 - PERTH

7:00pm - 8:30pm        "Great Australians" Free Public Forum

The Octagon Theatre

University of Western Australia

Crawley

6:30pm                        Photo opportunity on stage at The Octagon Theatre

Western Australian recipients

Australian of the Year

Professor Bruce Robinson AM

Cancer researcher

Professor Bruce Robinson's personal philosophy is to turn compassion into action. A world leader in the study of asbestos related cancers, Bruce pioneered the first blood test for mesothelioma. He has produced educational material to help doctors break bad news, and directs the Fathering Project which aims to connect children with father figures. A passionate volunteer who has donated many hours of service to rural Indonesian medical clinics, Bruce's personal philosophy is to turn compassion into action

Senior Australian of the Year - National Recipient

Fred Chaney AO

Reconciliation advocate

As a former senator, deputy leader of the Liberal Party, federal minister and founding co-chair of Reconciliation Australia , Fred Chaney's untiring work for the interests of Aboriginal people has never faltered. A pioneer in advocacy for Aboriginal rights from the 1967 referendum to this day, Fred is fiercely committed to social justice and a belief in the inherent equality of people.

Young Australian of the Year

Dr John van Bockxmeer

Doctor

While working as a doctor in the remote Pilbara region, Dr John van Bockxmeer saw Aboriginal children kicking a tin can around the dusty oval and knew it was time for change. John founded Fair Game, a charity that assists Aboriginal and migrant communities with sports equipment, wellness and health education programs and also provides an excellent mentoring program for Fair Game volunteers.

Australia's Local Hero

Denise Smith-Ali

Linguist

A Noongar woman from the south west of Western Australia, Denise Smith-Ali is one of the custodians of 13 clans with three major dialects of the Noongar language. Denise produces resources to support Noongar language in education, records and documents ancestral knowledge to show the cultural mapping of her country, and supports community awareness programs. Denise's contribution is keeping the Noongar language alive.

Media references

Anne-Marie Farley (Program & Events Manager, ADCWA) (+61 8) 9325 9988 / /  (+61 4) 12 309 340

David Stacey (UWA Public Affairs)         (+61 8)  6488 3229  /  (+61 4) 32 637 716