A medicine developer whose company could help Aboriginal babies fight scabies and other tropical diseases is one of four Victorians who will represent the state on the national Australia Day stage.
Mark Sullivan, the founder of non-for-profit Medicines Development for Global Health, was named the 2019 Victorian Australian of the Year for his work providing medicine to some of the world's poorest people.
He is now in the running for the national gong on January 25.
Three other Victorians are also in the running for the national award in their respective fields:
- The 2019 Victorian Senior Australian of the Year is 89-year-old STEM pioneer Alison Harcourt of Kew. She is now best known for developing integer linear programming, the basis of efficient computer processing.
- The 2019 Victorian Young Australian of the Year is 27-year old Dr Skye Kinder of Bendigo. Skye has dedicated her medical career to improving the health of marginalised patients throughout Australia.
- The 2019 Victoria's Local Hero is bushfire survivor and activist, Carol Matthews of Brunswick. Carol, Dave and Ellie Matthews experienced an unimaginable tragedy - the death of their 22-year-old son Sam, and the destruction of their home in the Black Saturday bushfires. Carol put her grief on 'hold' to advocate for emotional preparedness to be included in bushfire planning and preparation.
Australian Associated Press
