Authors Acting as Ambassadors
A number of writers are among those chosen as Australia Day Ambassadors for 2012. Gretel Killeen will be an ambassador in the Northern Territory, Toni Johnson-Woods will represent Queensland and Bryce Courtenay will ‘fly the flag’ in the Australian Capital Territory. In New South Wales, ambassadors include Valerie Parv, Judy Nunn, Thomas Keneally, Libby Hathorn, Susanne Gervay and Bruce Elder.
The Australia Day Ambassador Program sees ‘high achieving and proud Australians attend local Australia Day celebrations in towns and cities across the nation'.
Valerie Parv has already acted as an ambassador. Reflecting on her 2011 opportunity, she wrote: ‘Best of all I enjoy sharing my experience of becoming an Australian, sailing into Sydney Harbour on the Fairsky from England at the age of seven. Little did I imagine I would one day address whole communities on the subject ... This really is the lucky country.’ (Valerie Parv’s website)
More information on the Ambassador program and other Australia Day activities is available on the Australia Day website.