You're invited to join us here on Thursday evening to watch live as the recipients of WA's 2021 Australian of the Year Awards are announced.
The winners will be announced at a ceremony at the Ritz-Carlton Hotel, Perth,and are scheduled to begin at 6.30pm with ABC Radio Perth's Geoff Hutchison acting as MC.
The ceremony will be streamed live on this website. Publisher ACM, official media partner of the 2021 Australian of the Year Awards, will host the livestream on the websites listed below.
The 16 West Australians in the running to be named the state's Local Hero, Young Australian of the Year, Senior Australian or Australian of the Year for 2021 include doctors and scientists, a rural tourism ambassador, the founder of Plastic Free July, a young advocate for voluntary assisted dying and the man who urged Australians to support healthcare workers during COVID-19.
Among the nominees for 2021 West Australian of the Year is world renowned neurologist Professor William Carroll. For three decades he has specialised in the area of research and treatment for multiple sclerosis.
One of four West Australians nominated in the Young Australian of the Year category is Belinda Teh, a passionate advocate for voluntary assisted dying legislation.
Belinda's campaign was forged from personal tragedy after she watched her mother endure a painful death from breast cancer. Belinda has shown courage and persistence in retelling her own story to fight for compassionate choice in the wider community.
The award recipients in each category will join other state and territory winners as finalists in the annual national Australian of the Year Awards announcement on January 25, 2021.
The WA nominees are ...
Australian of the Year - sponsored by Australia Post
Professor William M Carroll - Leading neurologist
Professor Helen Milroy - Australia's first Indigenous doctor
Emeritus Professor Chemmangot Nayar - Clean energy pioneer
Clinical Professor Mark Newman - Cardiothoracic surgeon
Senior Australian of the Year - sponsored by the Department of Health
Marion Blackwell AM - Environmental scientist and landscape architect
Ron Manners AO - Miner, businessman and philanthropist
Ngarralja Tommy May - Painter and printmaker
Dr Richard Walley OAM - Champion of Aboriginal culture
Young Australian of the Year
Grace Forrest - Founder and director of Walk Free
Ashleigh Small - Founder of Hello Initiative
Dylan Storer - Journalist and social advocate for climate action
Belinda Teh - Advocate for voluntary assisted dying
WA Local Hero - sponsored by the Department of Home Affairs
Denise Brailey - Consumer advocate
Christopher Doohan - Creator of Adopt A Healthcare Worker campaign
Annette Green - Tourism Ambassador, The Australian Silo Art Trail
Rebecca Prince-Ruiz - Founder of Plastic Free July
You can read more about each of the nominees and their efforts and achievements here.
Thursday's live-stream of the awards ceremony will be visible on the following local news websites across WA;
