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Dr Peter Brukner named as Finalist in Australian of the Year Awards

Published Thu 14 Nov 2024

Four members of the Australian athletics community have been recognised as state and territory nominees for the 2025 Australian of the Year Awards, including Olympic pole vault champion Nina Kennedy and sports medicine leader Dr Peter Brukner.

With the annual awards celebrating the achievements and contributions of eminent Australians who serve as role models for all, Kennedy (WA, Nominee - Young Australian of the Year) and Brukner (VIC, Winner - Senior Australian of the Year) were shortlisted for awards, along with coach Rosemary Coleman (TAS, Nominee - Senior Australian of the Year) and Indigenous business founder Kim Collard (WA, Nominee - Australian of the Year).

Brukner will advance to the Australian of the Year Awards as Victoria’s Senior Australian of the Year, recognised for inspiring a generation of sports medicine practitioners and founding the largest sports medicine centre in Australia – Olympic Park Sports Medicine Centre in Melbourne. 

Athletics Australia Chief Executive Officer Simon Hollingsworth congratulated all four members on their nominations, noting their significant contributions from athletics to the broader community.

“It’s a privilege to see members of our community recognised for their exceptional achievements and diverse contributions to Australian society – whether it be through athletics, or other fields. These nominations reflect the values of excellence, resilience and service that each of them bring,” Hollingsworth said.

“The recognition of Peter, Nina, Rosemary and Kim underscores the impact that extends beyond athletics, celebrating their leadership and positive change they bring to their communities. We couldn’t be more proud of their achievements and the inspiration they offer to countless Australians.”

With the awards honouring an exceptional group of highly respected Australians, Kennedy’s nomination for Young Australian of the Year referenced her generosity in the community in giving back to the next generation of aspiring athletes, serving as a role model and inspiration.

Kennedy was joined by Collard in the west who was named as a finalist for Western Australia’s Australian of the Year, with the Balladong-Whadjuk businessman a sponsor of Athletics West’s Aboriginal Community Engagement program through the Bibulum Fund – also assisting in launching Athletics West’s inaugural NAIDOC carnival.

A finalist for Tasmania’s Senior Australian of the Year Award, Coleman has dedicated much of her life to athletics and education, most recently applying her coaching prowess to Para athletics – deeply committed to improving inclusion in sport and broader society.

Brukner will represent Victoria at the Australian of the Year Awards on January 25, 2025 in Canberra.

“We also would like to extend our heartfelt congratulations to Peter as he advances to the national stage in Canberra. His pioneering work in sports medicine has made a lasting impact on athletics and the broader health community in Australia. We wish him all the best as he represents Victoria, and we’re proud to see his contributions honoured in such a significant way."

Dr Peter Brukner OAM (Winner – Vic Senior Australian of the Year)

Sports medicine leader and health campaigner

Dr Peter Brukner OAM profoundly inspired a generation of sports medicine practitioners, co-authoring the widely used textbook, Clinical Sports Medicine.   

Peter founded the largest sports medicine centre in Australia: Olympic Park Sports Medicine Centre in Melbourne and is a founding member of the Australasian College of Sports Physicians, where he played a vital role in developing and recognising sports medicine as a full medical specialty. 

As Professor of Sports Medicine at Latrobe University, he established the La Trobe Sport and Exercise Medicine Research Centre, a world-leading research centre in sports medicine. 

After his own health issues, Peter established the not-for-profit SugarByHalf, which has produced far-reaching lessons for schoolchildren on the adverse effects of excessive added sugar. He wrote the best-selling books, A Fat Lot of Good and The Diabetes Plan, and founded Defeat Diabetes, an app- and web-based program endorsed by Diabetes Australia that aims to send type 2 diabetes into remission.  

Rosemary Coleman (Nominee – Tas Senior Australian of the Year)

Athletics coach and inclusion champion

Rosemary Coleman has dedicated much of her life to young people through her involvement in education and sport. Most recently, she has brought her talent for coaching to Para athletics, and is deeply committed to improving inclusion in sport and broader society. 

Formerly a paediatric nurse, Rosemary went on to become a teacher’s assistant at St Virgil’s college where she worked with students with intellectual and learning disabilities.  

She soon became the school’s athletics coach and a prominent coach of young Tasmanian athletes at the local, state, national and international levels as well as training new coaches.  

Rosemary is now retired but still coaching and still an officiator and administrator of athletics, having held positions such as manager, secretary, president and committee member across multiple athletics clubs and organisations. She has changed the lives of countless young athletes, supporting them to fulfil their potential and encouraging their belief in themselves. 

Nina Kennedy (Nominee – WA Young Australian of the Year)

World champion and Olympic gold medallist, pole vault

Nina Kennedy personifies the Australian spirit of resilience, particularly through her impressive sporting achievements.  

Beginning pole vault at age 12, Nina competed in the Australian Championships at age 14 and soon after qualified for the World Championships in 2015 and 2017.  

Her promising career was plagued by interruptions in the following years, including several serious injuries. Despite two stress fractures in her spine in 2022 and 2023, Nina demonstrated admirable resilience and grit.  

She returned to training and recorded several personal best jumps, including sharing gold with American rival Katie Moon at the 2022 World Championships. Continuing her winning streak, Nina then won gold at the 2024 Paris Olympics. 

Nina generously gives back to her community, frequently attending Little Athletics training sessions and events to share her expertise and motivate aspiring young athletes. She is a role model for young people, inspiring them with her determination and commitment to athletic excellence.

Kim Collard (Nominee – WA Australian of the Year)

Founder, Kulbardi, Kooya Australia Fleet Services and Bibbulmun Fund

Kim Collard, a proud Balladong-Whadjuk man of the Noongar Nation, is the visionary behind two of Australia’s most successful Indigenous-owned businesses: Kulbardi, a national office supplies provider, and Kooya Australia Fleet Services. Under Kim’s leadership, these businesses have flourished on a national scale, creating employment opportunities for both Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal people. 

A passionate advocate for Indigenous self-determination, Kim also established the Bibbulmun Fund, dedicating five percent of his companies' profits to support Aboriginal-led initiatives. Since 2014, the fund has raised over $1.6 million, supporting 24 charitable organisations and thousands of individuals across Australia. 

With a career spanning over three decades, Kim has mentored Indigenous youth and played a key role in supporting emerging Aboriginal businesses. He collaborates with government and private sectors, championing Indigenous rights, economic empowerment and intercultural understanding. Kim’s unwavering commitment to social and economic progress has left an indelible mark on First Nations communities across the country.

By Lachlan Moorhouse, Athletics Australia
Posted 14/11/2024


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