The University of Queensland Vice-Chancellor Professor Peter Høj today congratulated the sixteen Queensland finalists of the 2013 Australian of the Year Awards.
Of the finalists Professor Høj said he was pleased to note that four were alumni of the University.
“The fact that we are so well represented in these most prestigious of awards is a continuing testament to the calibre of our alumni and community members, and it is with pride I congratulate this year’s finalists," Professor Høj said.
“When people who are connected to UQ go on to do great things that positively impact the wider community, they lend strength to our reputation and help develop our future,” he said.
The alumni finalists are:
John Curro AM MBE, Queensland Senior Australian of the Year finalist graduated UQ with Bachelor of Architecture and was awarded an Honorary Doctorate in Music
Professor Adèle Green AC, Queensland Australian of the Year finalist graduated UQ with a Bachelor of Medicine, Bachelor of Surgery and a Doctor of Philosophy
Graeme Wood AM, Queensland Australian of the Year finalist graduated UQ with a Bachelor of Economics a Master of Information Systems and was awarded an Honorary Doctorate in Economics
Laurie Lawrence, Queensland Senior Australian of the Year finalist graduated UQ with a Diploma in Physical Education
All sixteen Queensland finalists will be acknowledged at State presentation ceremonies in November where the award recipients from across four categories will be announced.
Four finalists from each State and Territory are selected from four award categories – Australian of the Year, Senior Australian of the Year, Young Australian of the Year and Australia's Local Hero.
Award recipients become finalists for the national awards to be held on 25 January 2013 in Canberra.
UQ alumnus Geoffrey Rush received the national Australian of the Year award in 2012 and UQ researcher and co-inventor of the cervical cancer vaccine Professor Ian Frazer received the award in 2006.
For more information on the awards go to http://www.australianoftheyear.org.au
Media: Sarah McCormack, 0452 631 537
