Ita named Aussie of the Year 2013

Publishing icon and health care champion, Ita Buttrose, was named Australian of the Year 2013 at the prestige awards ceremony last Friday.

As president of Alzheimer’s Australia, Ms Buttrose was given the honour for her role in raising awareness of health issues, as well as a groundbreaking media career.

After a career spanning seven decades, publishing and media icon Ms Buttrose was just 15 years old when she started in ‘the industry’.

Starting her career as a copy girl at the Australian Women’s Weekly, she quickly became a cadet journalist at the Daily Telegraph and the Sunday Telegraph. At 23, she was appointed women’s editor at The Telegraph and in 1971 was promoted to founding editor of Sir Frank Packer’s new women’s magazine Cleo.

Ms Buttrose edited Cleo until 1975, when she was appointed editor of the Australian Women’s Weekly and then she became editor in chief of both publications from 1976 to 1978.

She was offered the job of editor in chief of the Daily Telegraph and Sunday Telegraph in 1981, making her the first female editor of a major metropolitan newspaper in Australia, a position she held until 1984.

Not for profit aged care provider, RSL Care, congratulated Ms Buttrose for her steadfast commitment to improving the lives of older Australians and for placing their needs in the “national spotlight”.

Alzheimer’s Australia chief executive, Glenn Rees, said the announcement should be seen as a big “thank you” from all of Australia for all Ms Buttrose has done.

Since Ms Buttrose took on the role of Alzheimer’s Australia president in 2011, she has led the Alzheimer’s Australia Fight Dementia Campaign, advocating for the more than 300,000 Australians with dementia to tell their stories and urging the government to put in place a plan to tackle dementia.

“Ms Buttrose has shown unrelenting commitment and passion for improving the quality of life of people with dementia, taking every opportunity in her busy life to raise issues relating to ageing and dementia,” Mr Rees said.

RSL Care chief executive, Stan Macionis, added: “Through [Ms Buttrose’s] public profile and positions with various charitable organisations she has worked hard to ensure older Australians receive the voice, care and respect they deserve.”

South Australia’s Emeritus Professor Ian Maddocks AM was named Senior Australian of the Year 2013 for his lifetime of health care achievements and is one of Australia’s pre-eminent palliative care specialists and a passionate advocate for the cause of peace.

He has been a key leader for many years in both the Medical Association for the Prevention of War and the International Physicians for Prevention of Nuclear War – an organisation which was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize for its work in 1985.

Palliative Care Australia congratulated Professor Maddocks on his achievement, with chief executive, Dr Yvonne Luxford, describing him as a “true pioneer” of palliative care in Australia.

The 82 year old maintains that this award should be shared by those who contributed to the development of palliative care.

Recognised internationally for his work in palliative care, tropical and preventative medicine, Professor Maddocks’ texts are now used worldwide.