Future eater odds-on for Strayan of the Year
Thursday, 25 January, 2007
Another scientist is at short odds to win tomorrow's Australian of the Year award, with environmentalist Tim Flannery a firm $1.75 favourite with bookmaker Sportingbet Australia.
With Prime Minister John Howard finally seeming to accept that climate change is real, and Flannery an eloquent campaigner on the issue, it may seem to the judges a timely award even though scientists have won the last two.
A dark horse could be Queensland's David Conry, who became concerned at the plight of young adults with physical disabilities being shunted into aged care homes because of a lack of specialist care. And he actually did something about it, successfully lobbying the Federal Government to take action and setting up a foundation to build suitable facilities for the youngsters. A Queenslander won last year, however, and the judges like to spread the awards around geographically.
Also in the running are Australia's favourite bacteria guzzlers, Barry Marshall and Robin Warren, who are WA's joint nominees but are stuck in the middle of the field at $16. Perhaps the bookies think a Nobel Prize is enough for the duo.
Mathematician Terrence Tao, SA's nomination, trails the field, probably because at 31 he is considered a bit too young considering his profession. Only athletes seem to win if they are under 40.
The ACT's nomination, one-legged skier Michael Milton, is second after Flannery at $3.75; Conry is third at $5.50, followed by Tasmania's John Tooth, a pioneer in aged care and dementia, at $12; Warren and Marshall on $16; Victorian philanthropist Philip Wollen and NT linguist and teacher Raymattja Marika, the only woman in the field, equal on $21; and young Tao on $31.
If Flannery does win the award, he will continue a fine streak of scientific AotYs this decade, starting with Gus Nossel in 2000 and continuing with Fiona Stanley, Fiona Wood and Ian Frazer. The streak has only been interrupted by unimportant people like Steve Waugh and Pat Rafter. Oh, and that bloke Peter Cosgrove who wears a uniform.
The last person with an artistic background to win the award was painter Arthur Boyd in 1995, which may say something about Australia, or may not.
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