This exhibition paid tribute to the eight extraordinary state and territory recipients of the 2019 Australian of the Year Awards, including national winners Richard Harris and Craig Challen.
Meet the 2019 Australian of the Year recipients
Explore the objects
The National Museum uses objects to tell stories, to connect with others and make us think. We asked the Australian of the Year recipients from each state and territory to choose an object of personal significance to go display. Each object tells us something about their lives, aspirations and experiences.
Knots book and samples from Craig Challen
Certificate and Scuba regulator from Richard Harris
Pussyhat from Virginia Haussegger
Racing helmet and gloves from Kurt Fearnley
Sandals from Michael Long
Glass scorpion and patch from Jon Rouse
Manuscript and book from Bernadette Black
Sculpture from Professor Hugh Taylor
Supporters
The 2019 Australian of the Year exhibition was developed by the National Museum of Australia in collaboration with the National Australia Day Council. Portrait images courtesy National Australia Day Council.
The National Australia Day Council would like to thank the following sponsors for their continued support of the Australian of the Year Awards program:
This exhibition was on show at:
- National Museum of Australia, Canberra, 13 December 2018 to 17 February 2019
- Shellharbour City Museum, New South Wales, 10 April to 27 May 2019
- Cobb+Co Museum, Toowoomba, Queensland, 4 July to 14 August 2019
- Casuarina Library, Darwin, Northern Territory, 21 August to 15 September 2019
- Godinymayin Yijard Rivers Arts & Culture Centre, Katherine, Northern Territory, 20 September to 26 October 2019