Ita Buttrose has been named 2013 Australian of the Year. Ita is only the 10th woman to receive this honour, since this very first honour was handed out in 1960! The last woman to do so, was Fiona Wood in 2005.
Ita has always inspired me. I remember as a child, being in awe of what she was achieving in the media world. I still am! She is the true meaning of the word role model. Using her brains and working hard to carve out a place for herself in this world, but not forgetting those around her – always giving back.
Ita began her media life as a copy girl. She worked her way up the ranks – becoming a respected journalist, the founding editer of Cleo, Editor of Australian Women’s Weekly Editor and the first ever female on the News Ltd Board.
Beyond her professional achievements, throughout her life she has championed many causes and issues, and continues to do so to this day. She is the National President of Alzheimer’s Australia and the Vice President Emeritus of Arthritis Australia. She raises awareness of breast cancer, HIV/AIDS and prostate cancer.
Below is the speech Ita gave upon receiving the honour
“The Young Australian of the Year 2013 is 25-year-old mentor Akram Azimi, an Afghan refugee kid who was ostracised when he started schoool in Western Australia 13 years ago. He became his school’s head boy and now he’s triple-majoring in law, science and arts at university. So he belongs now, but he hasn’t forgotten what it felt like not to belong, which is why he also mentors marginalised young Indigenous people in remote communities.” (www.bordermail.com.au)
Here is Akram at the WA Young Australian of The Year Ceremony, late last year.
Congratulations to both Ita and Akram – you make me proud to call myself an Australian!
Sarina
Hi,
I’m Sarina Bellissimo and this is the place I come to indulge in my love of all things entertainment. I can’t remember a time when I wasn’t fascinated by all things Hollywood/showbiz. I blame my parents!
As a child my mum used to force me to watch old Elvis Presley films with her, and both my mum & dad would take my brothers and I to the Drive-In to watch the latest films (this is where my love for ROCKY began!). When not watching movies, I was trying to figure out ways to pull the back off the TV so I could somehow get into it and be a part of all the action on the screen!
This blog isn’t a place that revels in gossip and negativity. It’s a place where entertainment is celebrated. That said, this is a place you can turn to for honesty. Honesty and criticism don’t always mean attacks. I choose to criticise the piece of work but not the person and I acknowledge that just because I don’t like something, it doesn’t mean someone else won’t.
Here you’ll find interviews with some of the biggest names in the world of Entertainment, reviews, breaking news and my very own musings.
Away from The Bellissimo Files, you can find me on Spin 1038 on Saturdays, between 1pm and 3pm,presenting Plan B. There’s celebrity interviews, entertainment news, the low down on the must see movies and music releases of the week, the ultimate guide to what’s on where in the city, as well as masterclasses with experts on standby to answer listeners’ questions.
I also appear on TV3’s “Elaine” panel, talk movies on “Ireland AM” and you can sometimes hear me filling in on Moncrieff’s “Movies and Booze “(Newstalk)
The Bellissimo Files is constantly evolving. Files (topics) will be added or deleted as time goes on. Feel free to read, watch, comment, share, and make suggestions for what you would like to see on the site.
Sarina
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