). Adam goodes is a sports star who is not from that mold, his seen as a good role model on and off the field, not just for young aspireing AFL players or its supporters but he also tries to be a positive role model for the indigineous community. This year he was awarded the Australian of the year award but the question i must ask is, was the descision to award him the honour purely on his performances on the sporting field and working with the indigineous community or did other factors influence the descision, and where there other Australians who should have been more likely candidates?..
the nominees are judged on these three areas;
1.Demonstrated excellence in their field;
2.Significant contribution to the Australian community and nation; and
3.An inspirational role model for the Australian community.
(scores for each out of 100%)
1. Adam goodes is one of the best players in his position in the AFL so i give him 80%
2. he has made a contributution but outside some indigineous communities not that much but he has still made an effort. he has used his fame to try to be the voice for some australians often not heard. 50%
3. He is an inspirational role model for some parts of australia butother parts of australia he would barely be known. 45%
overall not a bad score. but surely there would be other australians we could look at...
Scrolling the net i came across this guy,
*Prof Alan Trounson
His the worlds leading stem cell scientist and heads the California Institute of Regenerative Medicine. the intstitute is on the verge of a cure for HIV AIDS. they are at the human trials stage. His work when completed will SAVE MILLIONS OF LIVES EVERY YEAR, 1.6 million died of aids in 2012 alone. On top of this The institute is also using stem cells to try and cure blindness and to develop insulin-producing cells for type 1 diabetes sufferers. millions more people will be better off in the future due to Prof Alan Trounson's work.
1. Prof Trounson is the best in the world at his profession so i give 100%
2. his work will improve the lives of millions of future australians. 100%
3. Prof Trounson is a quiet achiever(most people wouldnt know of him unless they read about his work or seen it in the news) but anyone who hears his achievments would be inspired. the fact he is less known is the only reason for not getting another perfect score. 70%
Another sports star i can think of is golfer Adam Scott.
on the golf course Adam scott is one of the best players in the world and off the golf course he is a great role model for any young australian no matter there interest levels in golf. adam scott contributes to outside the golfing community with his foundation which was created to support disadvantaged and underprivileged youth. he became the first australian to win the US masters in 2012.
1.adam scott is ranked 2nd in the world so i give him 95%
2. his foundation helps disadvantaged young australians and he also donates parts of his tournament winnings to charaties, other than give away all his money there is not much more he could do. 50%
3. Adam Scott winning the US masters gave australians a sense of pride (much like winning the americas cup) and his success has inspired a new generation of aussie golfers. 90%
If it was upto me i would have given the Australian of the year award to Prof Alan Trounson. with the achievments in his line of work Prof Trounson deserves to be a house hold celebrity just as much as any tv or sports star. unfortunatly in australia achievments on the sporting field greater in significance to the achievments made in medicine or science...
Adam scott is my second choice because his sporting achievements and the work he has done away from sport are alot greater than Adam Goodes, and that is in no way disrespecting goodes in anyway i just think those two were more deserving.
I believe the way in which Adam Goodes handled himself recently throughout the numerous racism issues he faced may have helped influence the descision to make him the australian of the year, and i am ok with that.
During the racism issues Adam goodes was a true role model (not only to indigineous aussies but to anyone who is bullied etc) and he came out looking like the bigger man.
I have no complaints at adam goodes being the australian of the year, he may not have been my first pic but his still a worthy AOTY.
liar extraordinaire 
