Adam Goodes has been named Australian of the Year Collingwood president Eddie McGuire cautions against hysteria in the matter of a racial slur directed at Swans champ Adam Goodes, allegedly from a teenage Pies fan. AFL star and Australian of the Year finalist Adam Goodes. AFL player and Aboriginal leader Adam Goodes has been named Australian of the Year for 2014. An indigenous Andyamathanha man, Goodes is a champion AFL player with the Sydney Swans. ``Thank you Australia for this award. ``I believe racism is a community issue which we all need to address and that's why racism stops with me," he said. In a Swans match against Collingwood last May, a teenage girl called Goodes an ``ape" from the grandstand. He is actively involved with several indigenous sport and community programs, and has spent time working with troubled youngsters, including in youth detention centres. RELATED: Hey, true-blue Aussies - let's take an Australia Day stand ``My hope is that we as a nation can break down the silos between races, break down those stereotypes of minority populations," he said. ``I hope we can be proud of our heritage, regardless of the colour of our skin and be proud to be Australian. ``The ultimate reward is when all Australians see each other as equals, and treat each other as equals. Goodes' mother Lisa, a member of the Stolen Generation, was among those in the crowd for the announcement. Goodes receives his award from Prime Minister Tony Abbott. Source: AAP Source: Supplied Australian of the Year 2014 - Adam Goodes (NSW) Joined Sydney Swans in 1997 Dual Brownlow medallist Two AFL premiership victories Mentor to indigenous kids, establishing Go Foundation with his cousin and former teammate Michael O'Loughlin Jacqueline Freney from New South Wales at a morning tea hosted by Prime Minister Tony Abbott at Parliament House in Canberra. Jacqueline Freney is no stranger to a podium but usually it's right beside a swimming pool. On Saturday it wasn't another gold medal for the the Paralympic swimmer but instead a national honour, as the 21-year-old was named Young Australian of the Year for 2014. ``This is a significant day not only for me but for also for the Paralympic movement as it reflects the unique role Paralympians play in society," the Brisbane-born athlete said as she accepted her award. Cerebral palsy has not stopped Freney achieving sporting success, and at the London 2012 Games she won eight gold medals - the greatest haul by any athlete in the Australian team. In fact, she won a gold medal for every event in which she competed and set two world records. The performance earned her the crown as Australia's 2012 Paralympian of the Year. ``Please understand that I'm just a country girl who was born with extra life challenges," Freney told the Canberra crowd. ``I'm an example of how a child with special needs can develop and achieve with support, guidance, encouragement and opportunity. ``I ask that all Australians respect each other's diversity and acknowledge their ability to contribute to this great country. Freney's efforts have continued out of the pool, working with Swimming Australia as a motivational speaker to inspire other athletes with disabilities. Freney's current focus is training for the 2016 Rio Paralympics. Young Australian of the Year 2014 - Jacqueline Freney (NSW) Aged 21 Paralympic gold medal winning swimmer Most successful Australian of the London 2012 Paralympic Games Senior Australian of the Year Fred Chaney AO, at a morning tea hosted by Prime Minister Tony Abbott at Parliament House in Canberra. Former federal politician Fred Chaney's contribution to Australian society remains resolute, as does his championing of indigenous rights since his departure from parliament in 1993. The one-time Liberal senator and lower house MP for Western Australia, 72, has been named Senior Australian of the Year in recognition of his commitment to reconciliation and human rights. Stepping up to accept his award in Canberra on Saturday, Mr Chaney voiced his hope that Australia will soon achieve constitutional recognition for indigenous people. ``I have one learning I've taken from the past 50 years and that is for the prime minister to meet his ambition, for all of us to meet our ambitions to close the gap and to do the right thing by Aboriginal people," Mr Chaney said after stepping forward to accept his award on Saturday. ``We have to work in partnership with Aboriginal people ... and if we do that then the political firepower that's being directed, the bureaucratic firepower and the community firepower will enable the Aboriginal people of Australia to have their rightful place in this country. Mr Chaney served as minister for Aboriginal affairs in the Fraser government but his commitment to indigenous rights began earlier. He was an early advocate for Aboriginal voting rights in the 1960s and he later helped establish the Aboriginal Legal Service of WA. Earlier on Saturday he recalled the ``brilliant campaign" leading up to the 1967 referendum which allowed indigenous people to be counted in the census and for parliament to make laws concerning them. He hopes a similarly strong momentum will build ahead of a planned referendum on recognising Aboriginal people in the constitution. ``In all his leadership roles, Mr Chaney inspires others to work collaboratively, respectfully and ambitiously to overcome the barriers that inhibit people's full economic and social participation in Australian society," a statement from the National Australia Day Council said. Mr Chaney has served in a senior role with the National Native Title Tribunal and other advocacy groups, including the Graham (Polly) Farmer Foundation, which supports young indigenous people to reach their full potential. The father of three, who trained as a lawyer, was appointed an Officer of the Order of Australia (AO) in 1997 for his service to parliament and the Aboriginal community. Senior Australian of the Year 2014 - Fred Chaney (WA) Federal Minister for Aboriginal Affairs in Fraser Government Early advocate for Aboriginal voting rights Founding co-chair of Reconciliation Australia Local Hero, Tim Conolan, at the morning tea hosted by Prime Minister Tony Abbott at Parliament House in Canberra. The Victorian founder and boss of children's charity TLC For Kids has been named Australia's Local Hero for 2014 by the National Australia Day Council. ``To say that I'm overwhelmed is a complete understatement," the 44-year-old said as he accepted the honour in Canberra. He says he set up TLC for Kids because of a lack of services for sick children. ``I believe that any sick child, regardless of their illness, has a right to support," he said. ``I believe that we are living in the best country in the world and with enough support and everyone getting behind us we can all make a difference. Australia's Local Hero 2014 - Tim Conolan (VIC) Set up charity TLC for kids in 1998 Has helped more than four million sick children and their families Former DJ 2014 - Adam Goodes 2013 - Ita Buttrose 2012 - Geoffrey Rush 2011 - Simon McKeon 2010 - Prof Patrick McGorry 2009 - Prof Mick Dodson 2008 - Lee Kernaghan 2007 - Prof Tim Flannery 2006 - Prof Ian Frazer 2005 - Dr Fiona Wood 2004 - Steve Waugh 2003 - Prof Fiona Stanley 2002 - Pat Rafter 2001 - Lt Gen Peter Cosgrove 2000 - Sir Gustav Nossal 1999 - Mark Taylor 1998 - Cathy Freeman 1997 - Prof Peter Doherty 1996 - Dr John Yu 1995 - Arthur Boyd 1994 - Ian Kiernan 1992 - Mandawuy Yunupingu 1991 - Archbishop Peter Hollingworth 1990 - Dr Fred Hollows 1989 - Allan Border 1988 - Kay Cottee 1987 - John Farnham 1986 - Dick Smith 1985 - Paul Hogan 1984 - Lowitja O'Donoghue 1983 - Robert de Castella 1982 - Sir Edward Williams 1981 - Sir John Crawford 1980 - Manning Clark 1979 - Harry Butler, Senator Neville Bonner 1978 - Alan Bond, Galarrwuy Yunupingu 1977 - Sir Murray Tyrrell, Dame Raigh Roe 1976 - Sir Edward 'Weary' Dunlop 1975 - Major General Alan Stretton 1975 - Sir John Cornforth 1974 - Sir Bernard Heinze 1973 - Patrick White 1972 - Shane Gould 1971 - Evonne Goolagong 1970 - Cardinal Sir Norman Gilroy 1969 - Richard Gardiner Casey 1968 - Lionel Rose 1967 - The Seekers 1966 - Sir Jack Brabham 1965 - Sir Robert Helpmann 1964 - Dawn Fraser 1963 - Sir John Eccles 1962 - Alexander 'Jock' Sturrock 1961 - Dame Joan Sutherland 1960 - Sir Macfarlane Burnet Source: National Australia Day Council. No award given in 1993