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And the winner is… Ita!

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by The Punch Team

25 Jan 06:50pm

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Filed under: Australian Of The Year, Ita Buttrose

51 comments

Ita Buttrose is the 2013 Australian of the Year.

Picture: The Daily Telegraph

The former editor of The Daily Telegraph, The Sunday Telegraph and founder of CLEO Magazine has found herself a unique and respected place in Australian culture in recent years. Particularly after the success of bio-drama series Paper Giants.

Buttrose is the National President of Alzheimers Australia and has used her national profile to advocate for positive causes, like HIV/AIDS awareness.

Interestingly, a story last week said that an Australian Government cyber-safety video had captioned Ita as “Australian of the Year”. Were they caught out?

What’s your take on the decision?

Most commented

51 comments

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    • Earl Grey says:

      06:20pm | 25/01/13

      meh. She ranks up there with last years Aussie of the year, whatshisname and that other dood the year before or was it a sheila?? Anyway, good on you rosebutts you deserve it for whatever it was you did and we all look up to you and want to do the same.

      Reply

    • Peter says:

      01:19pm | 26/01/13

      Call me silly but I always thought the AOTY should be someone who did something in the preceding year - something of value to Australia. Not an actor (Geoffrey Rush) or a sportsman (Steve Waugh, Pat Rafter etc) but someone not doing whatever they do for $$$ or vainglrious ambition.
      I reckon that bloke who rescued the kid from the flooded creek yesterday should be the AOTY. Did you see the footage? Now there’s someone to be proud of and who can be a source of inspiration to my kids.
      Anyway AOTY 2014 will probably be Daryl Somers or Delta Goodrem.

    • BringbackLibs says:

      06:22pm | 25/01/13

      Definitely caught out. Labor has everything planned out, thank god they only have a limited time left. Sonya Ryan definitely deserved it.

      Reply

    • ma_kelvin says:

      06:25pm | 25/01/13

      Wow, Fantastic news that Ita Buttrose is Australian of theYear. Long over due as she is woman amongst woman the best of the best.  Issues of major important are her passion to help make Australia a better place for all of us.
      I know she will continue to do what she thinks wil,l help Australian.  Also I think Ita should be given the authority to advise governments on matters of importance and to continue to be given a voice in all media bodies of matters of importance.and help the media recognise her valued knowledge and credibity.  Ita is made of true grit. Give her what she deserves our Love of her work and deepest gratitude for doing what she does best.

      Reply

    • daniel burke says:

      06:29pm | 25/01/13

      haha now I have seen it all!! Ita Butrose..please. Who is next?? Karl Stefanovic?? What happened to giving the honour to less self-indulgant citizens who work tirelessly behind the scenes..much like the Fred Hollow’s…time to sell the Aussie dollar. We’ve gone mad.

      Reply

    • Tator says:

      08:42pm | 25/01/13

      To be honest.  It is for the work she does for Alzheimers and not for her medis work

    • Kate says:

      08:07am | 26/01/13

      Agreed…the days of Professor Ian Frazer, Drs Fiona Wood and Fiona Stanley seem to be over. Now we just honour movie stars and ladies who lunch…

    • Who cares says:

      10:09am | 26/01/13

      I’ve got alzheimers and I don’t remember her doing anything for me.

    • ChrisCBR says:

      06:30pm | 25/01/13

      A great choice! Very health focused, and classy to boot!

      A modern-day humanitarian.

      Good on ya Ita!

      Reply

    • Karl says:

      06:34pm | 25/01/13

      Congratulations Ita! You have always been inspirational.

      Reply

    • Susan says:

      06:39pm | 25/01/13

      Ita who? (rhetorical) Honestly stumped by this decision and was left very unimpressed.  I’ve barely seen her in the media aside from the Paper Giants mention. And being a highly paid editor of newspapers or magazines surely isn’t ‘enough’ to give you this title nor 1 point something years with two charities.  How about the firies who head out each and every summer and battle blazes.  What about a captain of one of those groups who’s been doing it for years?  What about emergency department personnel along similar lines. This is just a sad sad decision without any validity in my world.

      Reply

    • stephen says:

      08:29pm | 25/01/13

      Ita did her thing with publications and so forth because, admittedly, she wanted to succeed and feel good about herself.
      (So does everyone, actually, whether they work as a nurse, they are in the Salvos or they go to Syria and lop a dictator.)

      Ita has still a unique grace, and such a quality demands such a recognition which should now, because of this award, be common knowledge.
      (Just now I read above that Ita is President of AA - er, that’s Alzheimers Australia - and just seeing her on the news, her speech is different. Is that implication common knowledge, too ?)

      I remember seeing on GTV Nine many years ago Ita being interviewed after she was given the job to start up Australia’s first professional magazine for women.
      I was reading then The Australasian - god, isn’t that word now redundant ? - Post, and every youngster like myself thought she was a joke, and assumed that Mad Magazine would soon be putting our Ita on the front cover.
      But she was right and all smirkers were wrong.
      She outlasted Kerry, she did her own mag, she saw our first female Prime Minister and really, such a person has been a role model for every girl in this country who wanted to look and seem Australian, but not appear like the blokes.
      (I grew up in the 60’s and 70’s and that comment is not as silly as it seems.)
      I still hear some of my nieces mention her name, unrelated to this latest award.

      She’s excellent, and I wish I could meet more like her.

    • Steve says:

      06:43pm | 25/01/13

      What about Pauline Hanson a woman with a true vision for the country to become one of the best prosperous country in the world without astronomical debt.

      Reply

    • dafall says:

      11:14am | 26/01/13

      True vision??  Please explain???

    • Daz says:

      03:45pm | 26/01/13

      How so Steve, by printing money?

    • Noeline Blume says:

      06:44pm | 25/01/13

      Go Ita. Big congratulations to you. She has been an excellent role model and a fabulous Australian.

      Reply

    • fabulous says:

      06:46pm | 25/01/13

      Love love love its! True class all the way.

      Reply

    • Con Barrington says:

      06:54pm | 25/01/13

      One of the best choices in years

      Reply

    • Box says:

      06:58pm | 25/01/13

      Every night when I get home
      I settle down to prime time limbo
      When all the boys are gathered around
      Shouting Ita’a on TV
      And though the roaches are thick on the ground
      Somebody goes to close my window
      Keep the noise of the city down
      Get a dose of integrity

      Every week, in every home
      She got wholesome news for the family
      I believe, I believe, in what she says
      Yes I do
      I believe, I believe, at the end of the day
      Her magazine’ll get me through

      Ita’s tongue never touches her lips
      She could always be my godmother
      And though the desk-top hides her hips
      My imagination’s strong
      She’s the sweetest thing I’ve ever seen
      I’d like to take her out to dinner
      But when I think about the places I’ve been
      I’d probably hold my fork all wrong

      Every day and every night
      She’s the only one we can depend upon
      I believe, I believe, in what she says
      Yes I do
      I believe, I believe, at the end of the day
      Her magazine’ll get me through

      To every housewife through the land
      There is no-one else they can depend upon
      How could I not believe, when Ita tells me too

      Reply

    • AFR says:

      07:42pm | 25/01/13

      I was thinking the same thing. Maybe Chisel could re-release “Ita” for her charities?

    • Chillin says:

      07:04pm | 25/01/13

      Gillard will parachute her into a Senate position.

      Reply

    • Stained says:

      08:08pm | 25/01/13

      You have to be joking, Ita has said Abbott is no more a misogynist than the next bloke.  She would never be part of Gillard’s Hand Bag Squad, this is a woman of sheer class and substance.  She advised young women if they want to get to the top, get yourself a mentor, woman or man it doesn’t matter.  Does that sound like a Gillard clone, never in a million years could she match Gillard’s misandrist ways.  Gillard didn’t choose this woman, humans did.

    • Reader says:

      11:07am | 26/01/13

      Proof as if it was needed that loopy rightys see left conspiracies everywhere, even when it couldn’t be further from the truth. Being a former editor of the Telegraph alone is a lifetime gold pass to the inner Sydney Tory wankfest clique.

    • John Robertson says:

      07:31pm | 25/01/13

      Travesty of a traditional honour. Disgraceful feminist claptrap that has no direction for a positive future.

      Reply

    • Kitty says:

      08:00pm | 25/01/13

      Errr….who are you?

    • Disappointed says:

      07:52pm | 25/01/13

      Really? Hasn’t she spent enough time in the spotlight? How about an Australian who signifies what Australia is all about. Someone who has dedicated their time to this country and its people. How about a Cfa veteran who’s house burnt down….or a dedicated care flight pilot…....a person who dedicates their life to helping people in the outback…...a care worker who assist immigrants find their feet. Being famous doesn’t mean you are a great Australian it just means your good for the government. I’m surprised it wasn’t Nova Perris Kneebone!

      Reply

    • AFR says:

      08:18pm | 25/01/13

      Haters gotta hate.

    • Stained says:

      08:21pm | 25/01/13

      To all those disappointed who are asking who is she?  You must all live under rocks.  And disappointed, check out Susan’s post and Daniels.  They actually want someone whom we all know, they live under rocks too.
      Imagine, John Doe, his house burnt down, who is he?  Well he’s like millions of us, but choose just one unknown.  And of course @Disappointed, refugee-illegal-country shopper advocates actually hide under rocks because they don’t want to be found out coaching illegals how to lie to government.  Not many would support a traitor.

    • Futureproof says:

      01:32pm | 26/01/13

      Let’s face it, Australian of the Year is never going to be Joe/Jll Bloggs.  You have to be wealthy.

    • Gjb says:

      08:20pm | 25/01/13

      Alzheimer’s Australia national president.  All you dreadful naysayers may one day be ever so thankful….

      Reply

    • Mark says:

      11:17am | 26/01/13

      Is that an honorary (volunteer) or employed role?

    • Karen says:

      08:53pm | 25/01/13

      Should have been Sonya Ryan.  She has worked tireless since her only child was murdered by an Internet predator to make other young people aware of those dangers.

      Reply

    • Robert S McCormick says:

      08:36am | 26/01/13

      Nice one, Ita! Nice one.
      Having had a family member under the incredible care of Prof Ian Maddocks & his Wonderful Team at Adelaide’s Daw House Hospice some years ago I would have nominated him for both Australian & Senior Australian of the Year!
      It is those damned Australian Honours which give me the shits!
      As Paul Keating said when he refused the Companion of the Order of Australia , (or whatever silly, archaic name those awards are given) “These Awards should be for the unknown, unheralded contributors not those who were simply doing the job they were very well paid to do.
      Those gongs should go to the likes of those mentioned by “Disappointed”: The CFA, CFS, RFS, SES etc. People who actually contribute to the Community and do it without pay, without hesitation, who put their lives at risk to defend & help the rest of us.
      Why should Politicians, Senior Police, Captains of Industry, Members of the Judiciary, Members of Religious Orders, Public Servants etc. - all of whom get very, very well paid - get Honours for doing the job they undertook to do when hired?
      Never mind the additional fact that they all live comfortable, safe lives far removed from any danger.

      Reply

    • Li says:

      08:39am | 26/01/13

      Congratulations Ita, I think you are a most deserving recipient. A true female role model and as a few have mentioned, pure class all the way.

      And truthfully, I don’t think it would matter who was chosen; a firefighting hero, a good old Aussie Battler, a sports star, a film star, old mate down the road who has given his fortune to charity; there would still be the same crowd whining about it. I think essentially these people are not happy unless they have something to whine about.

      Reply

    • W J Craig (Mrs) says:

      08:54am | 26/01/13

      Karen,
      Sorry but I don’t agree one little bit. Ms Ryan may have been working tirelessly since her child got murdered.
      I can only go by the reports in the Adelaide Advertiser at the time as to how that child was allowed to do exactly as she liked.
      I do not think Ms Ryan deserved to be nominated.
      Go back & read that media cover, Karen & familiarise yourself with what what we were told had been going on.
      Three questions you might ask yourself are:
      What was that child doing so far away (what? 40-plus klms) from home yet her family had no idea where she was?
      Before this child left home why did her parent or parents not ask her where she was going & demand an answer before allowing her to leave the house?
      Isn’t that what you would do with any child of yours?
      It’s time for a bit of what I am told is called “A Reality Check”

      Reply

    • Reg Whiteman says:

      10:06am | 26/01/13

      The usual trifecta: a woman, a refugee made good, and an Aboriginal activist. The whole thing is a joke and an annual celebration of leftism, androgyny, and white-guilting. Ita Buttrose, who did more for sexualising children and creating the “body image” problem in girls through that disgraceful and pornographic “Cleo” magazine, was well paid for everything she ever did or ever has done. Mr Azimi should be thanking us, not the other way round.

      I nominated my mate Sullivan, from the South Coast, and he wasn’t even considered. He is 60 now and has dedicated the last 25 years of his life to selfless association with the lower echelons of society like alcoholics, drug abusers, the mentally ill, unfit and obese. He has taken into his home people no-one else would shelter and asked nothing in return. He is a quiet achiever who has voluntarily given away just about everything he owns. He is the sort of bloke who, if he still had one, would give you the shirt off his back. In his youth he was active in helping troubled girls, both indigenous and non-indigenous, in far west NSW and would patrol the streets and take them home in his own car and at his own expense - and not a single official “thank you” has he ever received. He never earned a salary anything like Ita Buttrose and never had the opportunity of going to University - but he epitomises all the classic Australian values. Unlike Ita, my mate has never had a free lunch in his life.

      I can hardly wait for Quentin Bryce’s annual dose of moronic saccharine. Who can ever forget her Australia Day speech to the nation from a few years back? That’s the one where she spoke from a “typical Australian school” and was surrounded by students - not one of whom was an Anglo-Saxon-Celt; not one blonde head or a pair of blue eyes - and that was supposed to be “representative” of modern Australia - but excluded 85% of the population.

      But then again, as we are constantly told, the white races are a plague, a blight, on the whole earth. Maybe she is a devotee of Dr Kamau Kambon who said “We have to exterminate white people off the face of the planet.” But that hardly raised an eye-brow. Can you imagine the commotion if any white anywhere in the world said the same sort of thing about non-whites?

      This whole “Australian of the Year” is just an exercise in political correctness and deliberately excludes any white, heterosexual, non-celebrity men of modest means.

      The whole thing makes me want to puke!

      Reply

    • Mark says:

      11:23am | 26/01/13

      Agreed mate. It is a vehicle now for rich attention seekers to pat each other on the back.

    • Mel says:

      12:11pm | 26/01/13

      “we are constantly told, the white races are a plague, a blight, on the whole earth” Truth hurts doesn`t it “Whiteman” ,

    • marley says:

      12:27pm | 26/01/13

      I disagree with pretty much everything you say, except the last little bit.  The awards system does exclude non-celebrity white males of modest means.  In fact, it excludes all non-celebrities of modest means, regardless of race, gender or orientation.  That’s the problem with the system.

    • stephen says:

      04:02pm | 26/01/13

      Hey brudder,
      I’m a gonna give my shoes away,
      I’m a gonna paint my face black,
      I’m a gonna come to your place
      And I’m a gonna sit on your back.

      Happy Australia Day.

    • LarryJ says:

      04:43pm | 26/01/13

      @Mel - and what a racist you are. And I’ll bet you are a professional victim as well. Everything Reg said is right.

    • Geronimo says:

      11:40am | 26/01/13

      In a word, acceptable, given Ita’s appreciation of those less fortunate.

      Paradoxically, trotting out an Australia Day ‘Award’ for a lying, whammy throwing sop like Mummy and Daddy Downer’s draft dodging little Precious, is a perfect example why many of the ‘Chosen Ones’, clearly affronted, prefer to choose ceremonial absenteeism as an instrument to demonstrate their indignity.

      Reply

    • TheRealDave says:

      11:45am | 26/01/13

      I for one am glad that in 2013 we can continue the tradition of rewarding and adulating those in this country who have already had a lifetime of adulation and rewards from society.

      Heaven forbid some ordinary person from the burbs who sacrifices their own time and money to help others gets a share of the limelight for 4 seconds of media time…

      Reply

    • Mark says:

      03:12pm | 26/01/13

      This sums it up nicely, well said.
      It seems Paul Keating is on the few awards nominees of any level to have the good grace to decline for this very reason.

    • Enoughisenough says:

      12:02pm | 26/01/13

      What a load !!!!!!  I agree wholeheartedly with Disappointed…......an absolute travesty of the true meaning of Australian of the Year.

      Reply

    • Empowered says:

      12:38pm | 26/01/13

      Gillard will no doubt be kissing as many babies and minority group arses as she can between now and her D (defeat) day election call, sit down grab the popcorn and watch the greatest spectacle of political correctness, tear jerks, knee jerks, dirt files, character assasinations, pork barrelling, free parachutes, false promises and all whilst being one of herselfs, just keep a bucket handy for certain nausea and tears.

      Reply

    • vox says:

      01:58pm | 26/01/13

      Wow! What a beautifully written, well researched little paragraph you have given us, and for which, of course, we will be eternally grateful.
      Pray tell, oh master of the lyrical phrase, how does one produce a dirt file except that the dirt file has dirt in it? How does one find evidence to assassinate another’s character without that evidence existing? Are you perhaps suggesting that Gillard alone practices political correctness? Good heavens!  Does that mean that Abbott refers to aboriginals as something other than “Indigenous People”? Do he and his ragtag team use words like “wog”, and “dago” and “towel-heads”? I certainly would not have thought so, but perhaps you know something that we mere mortals don’t?
      Pork barrelling? Isn’t that what you do when you dole out $900.00 to everyone in the hope of buying their vote?
      Is a free parachute the name you use for Howard using our money to bail out his family when they are kicking against the wind?
      And you will have to explain to we illiterates what is meant by “herselfs”. I should have listened to Dad and not left school so early.
      Are you perhaps a Liberal candidate in the upcoming election? Perhaps standing for Callan Park?
      Good luck, old chap, and happy Australia Day.

    • Liberal stool says:

      03:15pm | 26/01/13

      The worst was her getting precious about Jones and Abbott hanging shit on her over her Dad dying. What a bitch!

    • Daz says:

      03:49pm | 26/01/13

      Empowered, we forgive your misspellings of Abbott.

    • Sammi says:

      03:38pm | 26/01/13

      Ita is a deserving Australian of the Year. She is not a one minute wonder. She has done the hard yards for many years now and what’s more, she has done it with grace and dignity. She lent her name, strength and drive to creating community awareness of HIV/AIDS when there was so much stigma attached to it that it was seen only as a “gay” disease. Since then she has also worked tirelessly for Arthritis Australia and alzhimer’s association. Yes, her background does open doors and she does get the attention of the board room boys but she earned the respect she now has. I see there atrocious a few people here with sour grapes. To those I would say: compare your achievements with It’s and if your list comes up wanting do something about it. Your country will think you.

      Reply
 
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