<P> The Australian of the Year Award is given annually on Australia Day . The announcement of the award has become a major public event in Australia, and is televised nationwide . The award "offers an insight into Australian identity, reflecting the nation's evolving relationship with world, the role of sport in Australian culture, the impact of multiculturalism, and the special status of Australia's Indigenous people". The award is unique in that it is sponsored by a national government and commands broad public support . </P> <P> The following is a list of the recipients of the Australian of the Year award . </P> <Table> <Tr> <Th> Year of award </Th> <Th> Name </Th> <Th> Post nominals </Th> <Th> </Th> <Th> </Th> <Th> Comments </Th> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> 1960 </Td> <Td> Sir Burnet, Macfarlane Macfarlane Burnet </Td> <Td> OM </Td> <Td> 1899 </Td> <Td> 1985 </Td> <Td> Virologist; 1960 Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine co-recipient </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> 1961 </Td> <Td> Sutherland, Joan Joan Sutherland </Td> <Td> CBE </Td> <Td> 1926 </Td> <Td> </Td> <Td> Opera singer </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> 1962 </Td> <Td> Sturrock, Jock Jock Sturrock </Td> <Td> </Td> <Td> 1915 </Td> <Td> 1997 </Td> <Td> Yachtsman </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> 1963 </Td> <Td> Sir Eccles, John John Eccles </Td> <Td> </Td> <Td> 1903 </Td> <Td> 1997 </Td> <Td> Neurophysiologist; 1963 Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine co-recipient </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> 1964 </Td> <Td> Fraser, Dawn Dawn Fraser </Td> <Td> </Td> <Td> 1937 </Td> <Td> </Td> <Td> Swimmer; gold medal winner at 1956, 1960 and 1964 Summer Olympic Games </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> 1965 </Td> <Td> Helpmann, Robert Robert Helpmann </Td> <Td> CBE </Td> <Td> 1909 </Td> <Td> 1986 </Td> <Td> Actor; ballet dancer; director </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> 1966 </Td> <Td> Brabham, Jack Jack Brabham </Td> <Td> OBE </Td> <Td> 1926 </Td> <Td> 2014 </Td> <Td> Racing driver; Formula One champion in 1959, 1960 and 1966 </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> 1967 </Td> <Td> Seekers, The The Seekers </Td> <Td> </Td> <Td> N / A </Td> <Td> </Td> <Td> Music group </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> 1968 </Td> <Td> Rose, Lionel Lionel Rose </Td> <Td> MBE </Td> <Td> 1948 </Td> <Td> 2011 </Td> <Td> Boxer; first Aboriginal Australian to win world boxing title (1968) </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> 1969 </Td> <Td> Casey, Lord Lord Casey </Td> <Td> GCMG, CH, DSO, MC, PC </Td> <Td> 1890 </Td> <Td> 1976 </Td> <Td> Politician, diplomat, Governor - General of Australia (1965--1969) </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> 1970 </Td> <Td> Cardinal Sir Gilroy, Norman Norman Gilroy </Td> <Td> KBE </Td> <Td> 1896 </Td> <Td> 1977 </Td> <Td> Clergyman; first Australian - born Cardinal of the Roman Catholic Church </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> 1971 </Td> <Td> Goolagong, Evonne Evonne Goolagong </Td> <Td> </Td> <Td> 1951 </Td> <Td> </Td> <Td> Tennis player </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> 1972 </Td> <Td> Gould, Shane Shane Gould </Td> <Td> </Td> <Td> 1956 </Td> <Td> </Td> <Td> Swimmer; winner of three gold medals, a silver and bronze in 1972 Summer Olympics </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> 1973 </Td> <Td> White, Patrick Patrick White </Td> <Td> </Td> <Td> 1912 </Td> <Td> 1990 </Td> <Td> Author; 1973 Nobel Prize for Literature recipient </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> </Td> <Td> Sir Heinze, Bernard Bernard Heinze </Td> <Td> </Td> <Td> 1894 </Td> <Td> 1982 </Td> <Td> Conductor </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> </Td> <Td> Cornforth, John John Cornforth </Td> <Td> AC, CBE </Td> <Td> 1917 </Td> <Td> 2013 </Td> <Td> Scientist; 1975 Nobel Prize in Chemistry recipient </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> MAJGEN Stretton, Alan Alan Stretton </Td> <Td> AO, CBE </Td> <Td> 1922 </Td> <Td> 2012 </Td> <Td> Australian Army officer; managed Cyclone Tracy cleanup </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> 1976 </Td> <Td> LTCOL Sir Dunlop, Edward Edward "Weary" Dunlop </Td> <Td> CMG, OBE </Td> <Td> 1907 </Td> <Td> 1993 </Td> <Td> Military surgeon; World War II prisoner of war </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> 1977 </Td> <Td> Roe, Raigh Raigh Roe </Td> <Td> CBE </Td> <Td> 1922 </Td> <Td> 2014 </Td> <Td> President of the Country Women's Association </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> Sir Tyrrell, Murray Murray Tyrrell </Td> <Td> KCVO, CBE </Td> <Td> 1913 </Td> <Td> 1994 </Td> <Td> Official Secretary to six Governors - General </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> 1978 </Td> <Td> Bond, Alan Alan Bond </Td> <Td> </Td> <Td> 1938 </Td> <Td> 2015 </Td> <Td> Businessman </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> Yunupingu, Galarrwuy Galarrwuy Yunupingu </Td> <Td> </Td> <Td> 1948 </Td> <Td> </Td> <Td> Native title activist </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> 1979 </Td> <Td> Bonner, Neville Neville Bonner </Td> <Td> </Td> <Td> 1922 </Td> <Td> 1999 </Td> <Td> First Aboriginal elected to the Parliament of Australia </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> Butler, Harry Harry Butler </Td> <Td> OBE </Td> <Td> 1930 </Td> <Td> 2015 </Td> <Td> Naturalist </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> 1980 </Td> <Td> Clark, Manning Manning Clark </Td> <Td> AC </Td> <Td> 1915 </Td> <Td> 1991 </Td> <Td> Historian </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> 1981 </Td> <Td> Sir Crawford, John John Crawford </Td> <Td> </Td> <Td> 1910 </Td> <Td> 1984 </Td> <Td> Economist </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> 1982 </Td> <Td> Sir Williams, Edward Edward Williams </Td> <Td> KCMG, KBE, QC </Td> <Td> 1921 </Td> <Td> 1999 </Td> <Td> Judge of the Supreme Court of Queensland; chairman of the 1982 Brisbane Commonwealth Games Foundation </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> </Td> <Td> de Castella, Robert Robert de Castella </Td> <Td> MBE </Td> <Td> 1957 </Td> <Td> </Td> <Td> Marathon runner </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> 1984 </Td> <Td> O'Donoghue, Lowitja Lowitja O'Donoghue </Td> <Td> CBE </Td> <Td> 1932 </Td> <Td> </Td> <Td> Aboriginal health worker; inaugural chairperson of the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Commission (1990--1996) </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> 1985 </Td> <Td> Hogan, Paul Paul Hogan </Td> <Td> </Td> <Td> 1939 </Td> <Td> </Td> <Td> Actor </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> 1986 </Td> <Td> Smith, Dick Dick Smith </Td> <Td> </Td> <Td> 1944 </Td> <Td> </Td> <Td> Entrepreneur </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> </Td> <Td> Farnham, John John Farnham </Td> <Td> AO </Td> <Td> 1949 </Td> <Td> </Td> <Td> Singer, entertainer </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> 1988 </Td> <Td> Cottee, Kay Kay Cottee </Td> <Td> AO </Td> <Td> 1954 </Td> <Td> </Td> <Td> First female sailor to perform a single - handed, non-stop circumnavigation of the world (1988) </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> 1989 </Td> <Td> Border, Allan Allan Border </Td> <Td> AO </Td> <Td> 1955 </Td> <Td> </Td> <Td> Australian cricket team captain </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> 1990 </Td> <Td> Hollows, Fred Fred Hollows </Td> <Td> </Td> <Td> 1921 </Td> <Td> 1993 </Td> <Td> Ophthalmologist; founder of The Fred Hollows Foundation </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> 1991 </Td> <Td> Hollingworth, Peter Peter Hollingworth </Td> <Td> AC, OBE </Td> <Td> 1935 </Td> <Td> </Td> <Td> Bishop; head, Brotherhood of St Laurence </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> 1992 </Td> <Td> Yunupingu, Mandawuy Mandawuy Yunupingu </Td> <Td> </Td> <Td> 1956 </Td> <Td> 2013 </Td> <Td> Singer, Yothu Yindi </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> 1993 </Td> <Td_colspan="5"> No award made: award dating system changed </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> 1994 </Td> <Td> Kiernan, Ian Ian Kiernan </Td> <Td> OAM </Td> <Td> 1940 </Td> <Td> </Td> <Td> Environmentalist; founder of Clean Up Australia and Clean Up the World </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> 1995 </Td> <Td> Boyd, Arthur Arthur Boyd </Td> <Td> AC, OBE </Td> <Td> 1920 </Td> <Td> 1999 </Td> <Td> Painter </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> </Td> <Td> Yu, John John Yu </Td> <Td> AM </Td> <Td> 1934 </Td> <Td> </Td> <Td> Paediatrician </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> 1997 </Td> <Td> Doherty, Peter Peter Doherty </Td> <Td> AC </Td> <Td> 1940 </Td> <Td> </Td> <Td> Veterinarian; immunologist; 1996 Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine recipient </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> 1998 </Td> <Td> Freeman, Cathy Cathy Freeman </Td> <Td> </Td> <Td> 1973 </Td> <Td> </Td> <Td> Athlete; also Young Australian of the Year in 1990 </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> 1999 </Td> <Td> Taylor, Mark Mark Taylor </Td> <Td> AO </Td> <Td> 1964 </Td> <Td> </Td> <Td> Australian cricket team captain </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> 2000 </Td> <Td> Sir Nossal, Gustav Gustav Nossal </Td> <Td> AC, CBE </Td> <Td> 1931 </Td> <Td> </Td> <Td> Biologist </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> 2001 </Td> <Td> LTGEN Cosgrove, Peter Peter Cosgrove </Td> <Td> AC, MC </Td> <Td> 1947 </Td> <Td> </Td> <Td> <Ul> <Li> Commander of the International Force for East Timor (1999 - 2000) </Li> <Li> Chief of Army (2000--02) </Li> <Li> Chief of the Defence Force (2002--05) </Li> <Li> Governor - General of Australia (2014--present) </Li> </Ul> </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> 2002 </Td> <Td> Rafter, Pat Pat Rafter </Td> <Td> </Td> <Td> 1972 </Td> <Td> </Td> <Td> Tennis player </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> 2003 </Td> <Td> Stanley, Fiona Fiona Stanley </Td> <Td> AC </Td> <Td> 1946 </Td> <Td> </Td> <Td> Epidemiologist </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> </Td> <Td> Waugh, Steve Steve Waugh </Td> <Td> AO </Td> <Td> 1965 </Td> <Td> </Td> <Td> Australian cricket team captain and humanitarian </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> 2005 </Td> <Td> Wood, Fiona Fiona Wood </Td> <Td> AM </Td> <Td> 1958 </Td> <Td> </Td> <Td> Plastic surgeon; worked with victims of the 2002 Bali bombings </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> 2006 </Td> <Td> Frazer, Ian Ian Frazer </Td> <Td> </Td> <Td> 1953 </Td> <Td> </Td> <Td> Immunologist </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> 2007 </Td> <Td> Flannery, Tim Tim Flannery </Td> <Td> </Td> <Td> 1956 </Td> <Td> </Td> <Td> Scientist; global warming activist </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> 2008 </Td> <Td> Kernaghan, Lee Lee Kernaghan </Td> <Td> OAM </Td> <Td> 1964 </Td> <Td> </Td> <Td> Singer </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> 2009 </Td> <Td> Dodson, Mick Mick Dodson </Td> <Td> AM </Td> <Td> 1950 </Td> <Td> </Td> <Td> Indigenous leader </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> </Td> <Td> McGorry, Patrick Patrick McGorry </Td> <Td> AO </Td> <Td> 1953 </Td> <Td> </Td> <Td> Psychiatrist </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> 2011 </Td> <Td> McKeon, Simon Simon McKeon </Td> <Td> AO </Td> <Td> 1955 </Td> <Td> </Td> <Td> Philanthropist businessman </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> 2012 </Td> <Td> Rush, Geoffrey Geoffrey Rush </Td> <Td> </Td> <Td> 1951 </Td> <Td> </Td> <Td> Australian actor and film producer </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> 2013 </Td> <Td> Buttrose, Ita Ita Buttrose </Td> <Td> AO, OBE </Td> <Td> 1942 </Td> <Td> </Td> <Td> Australian journalist and businesswoman, founding editor of Cleo </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> 2014 </Td> <Td> Goodes, Adam Adam Goodes </Td> <Td> </Td> <Td> 1980 </Td> <Td> </Td> <Td> Australian rules footballer and indigenous community leader </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> 2015 </Td> <Td> Batty, Rosie Rosie Batty </Td> <Td> </Td> <Td> 1962 </Td> <Td> </Td> <Td> Domestic violence campaigner </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> 2016 </Td> <Td> LTGEN Morrison, David David Morrison </Td> <Td> AO </Td> <Td> 1956 </Td> <Td> </Td> <Td> Commitment to gender equality, diversity and inclusion </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> 2017 </Td> <Td> Mackay - Sim, Alan Alan Mackay - Sim </Td> <Td> </Td> <Td> 1951 </Td> <Td> </Td> <Td> Biomedical scientist treating spinal cord injuries </Td> </Tr> </Table> <Tr> <Th> Year of award </Th> <Th> Name </Th> <Th> Post nominals </Th> <Th> </Th> <Th> </Th> <Th> Comments </Th> </Tr>

Who was named australian of the year this year