The acclaimed guitarist John Williams is named Australian of the Year.
A guitar hero has been named Australian of the Year in a lavish ceremony at Australia House in London.
John Williams, nicknamed the ‘prince of the guitar’ was given the title during an Australia Day dinner last Saturday. Williams has worked with the guitar for more than 70 years and he’s worked with an impressive line-up of musicians including Vladimir Ashkenazy and Andre Previn.
His father was an English jazz guitarist who encouraged Williams to learn from the age of 4 with his very first guitar. The young Williams learnt quickly and was soon being taught with the very best in Italy. In 1980 he was awarded an OBE and in 1987 made an officer of the Order of Australia. In 2007 he was presented with the Edison Lifetime Achievement Award.
Philip Aiken, the chairman of the Australia Day Foundation said of Williams: “John William’s talent is awe inspiring and there is no doubt he has influenced many to take up the guitar….As the foremost ambassador of the guitar we consider John Williams a truly worthy recipient of the 2010 Australian of the Year in the UK award.”
Meanwhile the ‘Young Australian Achiever of the Year in the UK’ title was given to Dr Ainsley Newson, a Bio-ethicist who is now Senior Lecturer in Biomedical Ethics at the University of Bristol. Dr Newson has been described by organisers of the event as a “brilliant researcher” and “inspiring teacher” who has already won the ‘Rising Star’ prize at the University for her teaching.
“Ainsley has a clear idea of where she is heading and her desire to continue with her research and pass on her valued knowledge to others is why the Australia Day Foundations considers her a worthy recipient of this award” Philip Aiken stated.
Finally the winner of the Honorary Australian of the Year in the UK award went to Sir Robert Wilson, mining chairman and reformist who established the Global Mining Initiative which campaigned for ethical approaches to labour and the environment. He also campaigned for better financial records from other mining companies and reformed Anglo-Australian business.
Because of his tireless efforts, Rio Tinto have successfully lowered their greenhouse gases and are still working to create a better environmental working practice.
All of the above were amongst nearly 300 people invited to celebrate Australia Day at the London home of the Australia Day Foundation, set up to enable Aussies living in the UK to join in commemorations the biggest event in Australia’s calendar.
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