[It'sallgood]

I'm SO thrilled at the choices made this year

All great people and so well deserving.

http://www.theaustralian.com.au/in-depth/a...a-1226562089600

Tamm

[It'sallgood]

Wow! Not 1 comment or opinion about Australian of the Year this year!?! Usually it's a hot topic in here.
I'm not sure if that is a good or bad sign or a sign of absolute indifference

[Dinosaurus]

OK Tamm, I'll play with you

I love Ita, she is an amazing and successful woman BUT I am disappointed that she isn't' doing more feminist things with her time. I agree older Australians need more support but heck, most of those are women. The inky thing about Ita that keeps passing me off is the way she keeps insisting that she never encountered discrimination (which is doubtful, but even if it's true) so doesn't expect anyone else to. In other words if women are complaining about discrimination they are just whining britches who aren't good enough.

But really, I can't work up much frothing at the mouth, nice to see Ita, nice to see the other winners, especially nice to note the lack of flipping cricketers

[LambChop]

I love Ita, she is an amazing and successful woman BUT I am disappointed that she isn't' doing more feminist things with her time.

She did absolutely heaps in her younger years though, maybe she got tired of that fight ? I've seen her speak at a women in leadership conference, her journey is pretty incredible in a 'mans world' in the 1970's. Glad she has been recognised in this way

[Lucretia Borgia]

I like Ita, she's a survivor......I think it's deserved......glad it wasn't a sportsman who got it....

[Beltie]

" she keeps insisting that she never encountered discrimination (which is doubtful, but even if it's true) so doesn't expect anyone else to. "

I love that she does this. She is saying that discrimination is not normal and not OK. If there is discrimination there is something wrong with that workplace/environment and we all should not accept it.

[~sydblue~]

" she keeps insisting that she never encountered discrimination (which is doubtful, but even if it's true) so doesn't expect anyone else to. "

I love that she does this. She is saying that discrimination is not normal and not OK. If there is discrimination there is something wrong with that workplace/environment and we all should not accept it.

But someone of her standing saying she never encountered it, just makes people able to or more wanting to say "IT NEVER HAPPENED" or "IT'S NOT HAPPENING."
Therefore sweeping it back under the rug.

[Akeyo]

I agree, fantastic and deserving winners this year. I was especially moved by the story of the Young Australian of the Year Akram Azimi. What an extraordinary young man and I loved his acceptance speech, in particular about how The Dreaming is still continuing and we are all a part of that.

I too applaud the choice of Ita, I have huge admiration for her. She has broken through that many glass ceilings and continues to be a dynamic leader and role model in whatever she does. And high time we had a woman as Australian of the Year, I was a bit shocked when I realised the last time was in 2005.

[SarahM72]

I agree, fantastic and deserving winners this year. I was especially moved by the story of the Young Australian of the Year Akram Azimi. What an extraordinary young man and I loved his acceptance speech, in particular about how The Dreaming is still continuing and we are all a part of that.

Yes, Akram is amazing. A very deserving recipient. His acceptance speech was so sweet, and he had the biggest smile. I find it was so lovely and heartwarming to see the continuing close connection between the Afghani and the Aboriginal communities. I cried during his speech.

Also I was so happy to see Bob Atkinson was a recipient. I have met him many times and he always had so much time for everyone in the community. He would chat to everyone as if they were his best friends, lol. He even took the time to talk to my kids on many occassions, treating them with as much respect and kindness as he did adults. He always took a great interest in helping everyone and I was so sorry when he retired, but I guess everyone has to retire one day.

[It'sallgood]

Ita do MORE for feminism?! Holy crap how much can one poor woman DO over a lifetime. As I see it, she's done more for working women and for women to be accepted as truly equal in the workforce, then almost any other Australian woman I can think of.

She is a hard-ass feminist though..she certainly does NOT believe at all in "special" circumstances to be given to working women becuase they are women. She's very much an equalist. However, she IS 71 yrs of age, so she was in the workforce in a very different era to how life is today for modern women. Taht's for sure.

She's a "take no prisoners" type of woman Who just believes that the "work output" and quality should speak for itself and she couldn't care less if that work came from a 20 yr old with 3 kids under 5 or a 50 yr old with no children...or a male or a transexual Ukranian immigrant!! GEt the picture? In Ita's workplace, they'd all be judged equally on the quality of their work.

Now in her "retirement" she has turned herself to focus on charity work that she's passionate about. Fair enough too and wonderful that she has been able to use her "work" profile for raising $ and awareness of other causes.

I think she is one of the most inspirational and amazing women we have. I'm thrilled and in fact, only some months ago when I watched her doing her regular spot on the morning show, I thought "god she's a great woman...I wish they'd award her with something becuase she's such an icon and SO full of common sense and totally no bullsh*t with her"

So obviously, Julia heard my call....LOL

Yes, the others too - so deserving and wonderful.

Got to go to bed, but thanks!

Tamm