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Media trailblazer and health advocate, Ita Buttrose AC OBE, has been honoured for her decades of advocacy and leadership.
Ms Buttrose received a Lifetime Achievement Award at My Guardian’s annual Gala Dinner in Sydney on the weekend.
Ms Buttrose is the former National President and current Patron of Dementia Australia, Emeritus Director of Arthritis Australia and Patron of the Macular Disease Foundation. She also chaired the National Advisory Committee on AIDS in the 1980s, helping drive Australia’s HIV/AIDS education program.
“Ita Buttrose has been a trailblazer for public health education in this country for more than 40 years. From her work with Dementia Australia to her leadership on the National Advisory Committee on AIDS, she has never shied away from the big conversations, and Australians are healthier and better informed because of her,” said My Guardian CEO and Co-Founder, Jad Haber.
Seniors advocate, Anne Burgess AM was also honoured, receiving the Community Champion Award for more than four decades of advocacy for social justice, aged care and the rights of older Australians.
Ms Burgess is Chair of the Aged Care Council of Elders and Aged Care Transition Taskforce, Chair of the Aged Rights Advocacy Service in South Australia and Deputy Chair of the Older Persons Advocacy Network. She has also served as South Australia’s Acting Commissioner for Equal Opportunity.
“Anne Burgess has dedicated her life to giving older Australians a voice, often on issues that don’t get the attention they deserve. Her work across aged care advocacy and equal opportunity has had a real and lasting impact on people who are too often overlooked,” said Mr Haber.
Now in its 11th year, the annual event celebrates the people and partnerships working to improve care and support for older Australians, people living with disability and their families.
My Guardian has grown from a volunteer-led organisation to one of Australia’s leading providers of aged and disability support, supporting more than 12,000 families and delivering 12 million hours of care through a workforce of more than 1,000 support professionals.
This year’s Gala focused on leadership, advocacy, community and creating meaningful change.
Former South Sydney Rabbitohs rugby league player, Jai Arrow, received the My Guardian Stand for Change Award from NSW Premier Chris Minns for using his platform to raise awareness of MND and champion greater research and understanding of the disease, following his diagnosis earlier this year.
“Jai Arrow represents what it means to stand for something bigger than yourself. His journey has been incredibly challenging, but he has chosen to use his voice and platform to raise awareness and help change the future for others living with MND,” Mr Haber said.
“The My Guardian Gala is about celebrating people who make a genuine difference in the lives of others. Jai embodies that spirit, and we are incredibly proud to recognise him.”
The 30-year-old has played 180 NRL games and 12 State of Origin matches for Queensland. Since announcing his diagnosis, Arrow has used his public profile to advocate for greater MND awareness and research.
The awards judging panel featured Professor Mary M Kavurma, Associate Director of Research at the Heart Research Institute; Professor Reema Harrison, Chief Scientist and Research Director at the Ingham Institute; Professor Philip O’Connell, Executive Director of the Westmead Institute; James Jegasothy, Acting CEO of Multicultural NSW; and Dr Kathy Chapman, CEO of the Macular Disease Foundation.
“Our Gala is an opportunity to stop and recognise the people who are making a difference, whether that is through advocacy, public health, community leadership or simply having the courage to stand up and create change,” Mr Haber said.
“Jai, Ita and Anne have each made an extraordinary contribution in very different ways, and we are delighted to bring our community together to celebrate them.”
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