An accidental paleontologist whose discovery of a dinosaur bone led to the resurgence of the academic discipline Down Under and an Olympic hero have been recognised at the 2024 n of the Year awards.
n Olympic swimmer Emma McKeon, 29, has been recognised as Young n of the Year.
Despite missing out on qualifying for the 2012 London Olympic at age 18, the Queenslander became ’s most successful Olympian of all time by the time she was 27.
After taking a career break, McKeon returned to the sport, claiming six podium finishes at the 2014 Commonwealth Games.
n Olympic swimmer Emma McKeon (pictured), 29, has been recognised as Young n of the Year
Prime Minister of Anthony Albanese and partner Jodie Haydon (pictured, centre) host a morning Tea with the n of the Year finalists at the Lodge in Canberra
At the 2020 Summer Olympics, she became the first female swimmer and the second woman in history to win seven medals in a single games. She has also broken Commonwealth Games, Olympic and World records.
The 2024 n of the Year awards, held at the National Arboretum in Canberra on Thursday evening, are being presented by Prime Minister Anthony Albanese.
McKeon’s victory was the second announced of the star-studded evening, which is being hosted by legendary ABC journalist Leigh Sales.
David Elliott, a fourth-generation farmer, whose chance discovery of ‘s largest-ever dinosaur bone during a routine sheep mustering in 1999 sparked the revival of the country’s paleontology field, was named ’s Local Hero for 2024.
‘s Local Hero of 2024 David Elliott OAM and his wife Judy arrive at the awards ceremony at the National Arboretum in Canberra
After Mr Elliott’s discovery in the Queensland outback town of Winton began drawing other palaeontologists to the region, he and his wife Judy founded the n Age of Dinosaurs Museum of Natural History in 2002.
The institution draws thousands of visitors a year to the town, now known as the dinosaur capital of the country.
First operated on the couple’s property, the museum would conduct dinosaur digs, with Mr Elliott gathering an impressive collection of fossils.
The museum now houses the country’s most significant collection of dinosaur artefacts and serves as a centre for n paleontological research and discovery.
Mr Elliott (pictured), a fourth-generation farmer, whose chance discovery of ‘s largest-ever dinosaur bone during a routine sheep mustering in 1999 sparked the revival of the country’s paleontology field, has been named ’s Local Hero for 2024
David was recognised for his contributions to science with an Order of Medal (OAM) in 2015.
More to come.