FED: Aboriginal leader Mick Dodson named Australian of the Year
25 Jan 2009 5:20 PM
Subject: FED: Aboriginal leader Mick Dodson named Australian of the Year FED: Aboriginal leader Mick Dodson named Australian of the Year
CANBERRA, Jan 25 AAP - Aboriginal leader and academic Mick Dodson has been named Australian of the Year at a ceremony outside Parliament House in Canberra.
Prof Dodson, a tireless campaigner for indigenous rights, was presented the award by the prime minister a year after Kevin Rudd apologised to the stolen generations.
The Yawuru man, originally from the Broome area, takes over the mantle from country singer Lee Kernaghan.
Prof Dodson, the ACT Australian of the Year, won the national title ahead of seven other finalists representing each state and territory, including two other indigenous Australians - blind singer-songwriter Geoffrey Yunupingu and activist Ivan Copley.
Mr Rudd thanked Prof Dodson for his lifetime commitment to improving the lives of Aboriginal people and in helping to close the gap between indigenous and non-indigenous Australians.
"His efforts truly show that if we work together, we can achieve real progress," Mr Rudd said.
Prof Dodson, 58, is the eighth Aborigine to receive the honour.
The last was Olympic gold medallist Cathy Freeman in 1998.
Prof Dodson was one of the shortest-priced favourites in the 49-year history of the event.
Former Test cricketer and breast cancer campaigner Glenn McGrath was second favourite.
Prof Dodson, a law professor at the Australian National University and director of the National Centre for Indigenous Studies, is currently advising the federal government on a new national indigenous representative body.
He is also a member of the United Nations Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues.
Prof Dodson now lives in Canberra.
AAP jcd/jlw=0A
FED: Aboriginal leader Mick Dodson named Australian of the Year