Ken Gourlay - Tasmanian Australian of the Year

by Nicole Browne/Sail-World.com on 23 Nov 2007
A circumnavigator who raised funds for children with eyesight disorders; a visionary ceramic artist who has created a new material; a youth mentor dedicated to helping children of all needs through to young adulthood; and an Imam who is dedicated to promoting synergy between different faiths were tonight named as the Tasmanian recipients in the Australian of the Year Awards 2008.

Tasmania's Australian of the Year recipients have been announced. They are Ken Gourlay (Tasmania’s Australian of the Year 2008), Les Blakebrough (Tasmania’s Senior Australian of the Year 2008) Robyn McKinnon (Tasmania’s Young Australian of the Year 2008) and Imam Sabri Samson (Tasmania’s Local Hero of the Year 2008).

The Hon Paula Wriedt MHA, Minister for Tourism, Arts and Environment, presented the recipients with their awards at a ceremony at Meadowbank Estate and congratulated all the finalists for their inspiring achievements.

The Tasmanian award recipients are:

Tasmania’s Australian of the Year 2008 is world record sailor Ken Gourlay.

Ken Gourlay dreamt of being the first Tasmanian and the fastest Australian to sail alone, non-stop and unassisted, around the world. With more than 70,000 nautical miles of sailing already behind him, including several Sydney Hobart races and line honours in a Melbourne to Launceston race, Ken set out in his 42 ft yacht Spirit Silver Edition in November 2006 on his solo quest of circumnavigation. He returned to Launceston in the record time of less than 180 days, just pipping the previous best time set in 2001, and officially became only the sixth Australian to do the journey under the stringent rules which apply to these feats of courage and perseverance. This makes him the fastest, and oldest, Australian to circumnavigate the globe. Along the way, he raised more than $100,000 for medical research into eyesight disorders and diseases in children. Ken truly does live his dreams to the full.

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Other Tasmanian award recipients are:

- Tasmania’s Senior Australian of the Year 2008 is leading ceramic artist Les Blakebrough.

- Tasmania’s Young Australian of the Year 2008 is youth mentor Robyn McKinnon.

- Tasmania’s Local Hero of the Year 2008 is Muslim community leader Imam Sabri Samson.

'Tasmanians can be very proud of the award recipients, who come from diverse areas of achievement and contribution,' said Tam Johnston, National Manager of the Australian of the Year Awards.

'Like all our award recipients this year, they have been truly inspirational in their own fields and in the broader community.'

All Tasmanian award recipients now become national finalists in the Australian of the Year Awards to be announced in Canberra on 25 January 2008.

Visit www.australianoftheyear.gov.au