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Senior Australian of the Year 2015

Jackie French overcame dyslexia to become an author of children’s books, with Diary of a Wombat perhaps her best-known story. Referring to herself as being in her afternoon tea of life, she has been voted Senior Australian of the Year for 2015.

Despite her dyslexia, French was an avid reader from an early age and wrote her first book at six, after running out of things to read.

The 61-year-old was last year named the Australian Children’s Laureate in 2014, a role of two years that involves encouraging children to embrace the transformational power of storytelling.

French’s stories all have an Australian theme and she is the director of The Wombat Foundation, raising funds for research into the preservation of the endangered northern hairy-nosed wombat.

If you’re lucky enough to be spending Australia Day with the grandchildren, why not enjoy together this video of Jackie French reading Diary of a Wombat?

 

The award for Australian of the Year went to Rosie Batty, who less than a year ago, lost her son Luke when his violent father killed him at a cricket training session. Rosie found her voice after the tragedy and has actively campaigned and spoken about the issue of domestic violence.

To find out more about the winners, as well as the Young Australian of the Year and Local Hero of the Year, visit Australianoftheyear.org.au

FROM THE AUTHOR
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