Year of award Name Post nominals Comments 1960 Sir Burnet, Macfarlane Macfarlane Burnet OM 1899 1985 Virologist; 1960 Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine co-recipient 1961 Sutherland, Joan Joan Sutherland CBE 1926 Opera singer 1962 Sturrock, Jock Jock Sturrock 1915 1997 Yachtsman 1963 Sir Eccles, John John Eccles 1903 1997 Neurophysiologist; 1963 Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine co-recipient 1964 Fraser, Dawn Dawn Fraser 1937 Swimmer; gold medal winner at 1956, 1960 and 1964 Summer Olympic Games 1965 Helpmann, Robert Robert Helpmann CBE 1909 1986 Actor; ballet dancer; director 1966 Brabham, Jack Jack Brabham OBE 1926 2014 Racing driver; Formula One champion in 1959, 1960 and 1966 1967 Seekers, The The Seekers N / A Music group 1968 Rose, Lionel Lionel Rose MBE 1948 2011 Boxer; first Aboriginal Australian to win world boxing title (1968) 1969 Casey, Lord Lord Casey GCMG, CH, DSO, MC, PC 1890 1976 Politician, diplomat, Governor - General of Australia (1965 -- 1969) 1970 Cardinal Sir Gilroy, Norman Norman Gilroy KBE 1896 1977 Clergyman; first Australian - born Cardinal of the Roman Catholic Church 1971 Goolagong, Evonne Evonne Goolagong 1951 Tennis player 1972 Gould, Shane Shane Gould 1956 Swimmer; winner of three gold medals, a silver and bronze in 1972 Summer Olympics 1973 White, Patrick Patrick White 1912 1990 Author; 1973 Nobel Prize for Literature recipient Sir Heinze, Bernard Bernard Heinze 1894 1982 Conductor Cornforth, John John Cornforth AC, CBE 1917 2013 Scientist; 1975 Nobel Prize in Chemistry recipient MAJGEN Stretton, Alan Alan Stretton AO, CBE 1922 2012 Australian Army officer; managed Cyclone Tracy cleanup 1976 LTCOL Sir Dunlop, Edward Edward "Weary '' Dunlop CMG, OBE 1907 1993 Military surgeon; World War II prisoner of war 1977 Roe, Raigh Raigh Roe CBE 1922 2014 President of the Country Women 's Association Sir Tyrrell, Murray Murray Tyrrell KCVO, CBE 1913 1994 Official Secretary to six Governors - General 1978 Bond, Alan Alan Bond 1938 2015 Businessman Yunupingu, Galarrwuy Galarrwuy Yunupingu 1948 Native title activist 1979 Bonner, Neville Neville Bonner 1922 1999 First Aboriginal elected to the Parliament of Australia Butler, Harry Harry Butler OBE 1930 2015 Naturalist 1980 Clark, Manning Manning Clark AC 1915 1991 Historian 1981 Sir Crawford, John John Crawford 1910 1984 Economist 1982 Sir Williams, Edward Edward Williams KCMG, KBE, QC 1921 1999 Judge of the Supreme Court of Queensland; chairman of the 1982 Brisbane Commonwealth Games Foundation de Castella, Robert Robert de Castella MBE 1957 Marathon runner 1984 O'Donoghue, Lowitja Lowitja O'Donoghue CBE 1932 Aboriginal health worker; inaugural chairperson of the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Commission (1990 -- 1996) 1985 Hogan, Paul Paul Hogan 1939 Actor 1986 Smith, Dick Dick Smith 1944 Entrepreneur Farnham, John John Farnham AO 1949 Singer, entertainer 1988 Cottee, Kay Kay Cottee AO 1954 First female sailor to perform a single - handed, non-stop circumnavigation of the world (1988) 1989 Border, Allan Allan Border AO 1955 Australian cricket team captain 1990 Hollows, Fred Fred Hollows 1921 1993 Ophthalmologist; founder of The Fred Hollows Foundation 1991 Hollingworth, Peter Peter Hollingworth AC, OBE 1935 Bishop; head, Brotherhood of St Laurence 1992 Yunupingu, Mandawuy Mandawuy Yunupingu 1956 2013 Singer, Yothu Yindi 1993 No award made: award dating system changed 1994 Kiernan, Ian Ian Kiernan OAM 1940 Environmentalist; founder of Clean Up Australia and Clean Up the World 1995 Boyd, Arthur Arthur Boyd AC, OBE 1920 1999 Painter Yu, John John Yu AM 1934 Paediatrician 1997 Doherty, Peter Peter Doherty AC 1940 Veterinarian; immunologist; 1996 Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine recipient 1998 Freeman, Cathy Cathy Freeman 1973 Athlete; also Young Australian of the Year in 1990 1999 Taylor, Mark Mark Taylor AO 1964 Australian cricket team captain 2000 Sir Nossal, Gustav Gustav Nossal AC, CBE 1931 Biologist 2001 LTGEN Cosgrove, Peter Peter Cosgrove AC, MC 1947 Commander of the International Force for East Timor (1999 - 2000) Chief of Army (2000 -- 02) Chief of the Defence Force (2002 -- 05) Governor - General of Australia (2014 -- present) 2002 Rafter, Pat Pat Rafter 1972 Tennis player 2003 Stanley, Fiona Fiona Stanley AC 1946 Epidemiologist Waugh, Steve Steve Waugh AO 1965 Australian cricket team captain and humanitarian 2005 Wood, Fiona Fiona Wood AM 1958 Plastic surgeon; worked with victims of the 2002 Bali bombings 2006 Frazer, Ian Ian Frazer 1953 Immunologist 2007 Flannery, Tim Tim Flannery 1956 Scientist; global warming activist 2008 Kernaghan, Lee Lee Kernaghan OAM 1964 Singer 2009 Dodson, Mick Mick Dodson AM 1950 Indigenous leader McGorry, Patrick Patrick McGorry AO 1953 Psychiatrist 2011 McKeon, Simon Simon McKeon AO 1955 Philanthropist businessman 2012 Rush, Geoffrey Geoffrey Rush 1951 Australian actor and film producer 2013 Buttrose, Ita Ita Buttrose AO, OBE 1942 Australian journalist and businesswoman, founding editor of Cleo 2014 Goodes, Adam Adam Goodes 1980 Australian rules footballer and indigenous community leader 2015 Batty, Rosie Rosie Batty 1962 Domestic violence campaigner 2016 LTGEN Morrison, David David Morrison AO 1956 Commitment to gender equality, diversity and inclusion 2017 Mackay - Sim, Alan Alan Mackay - Sim 1951 Biomedical scientist treating spinal cord injuries
who was named australian of the year this year
Mackay - Sim, Alan Alan Mackay - Sim