Argent gets Aust of Year nod
PFLAG national spokeswoman Shelley Argent has been named as a candidate for the 2011 Australian of the Year awards.
The National Australia Day Council (NADC) received more than 1600 nominations for the four categories 鈥� Australian of the Year, Young Australian of the Year, Senior Australian of the Year and Australian Local Hero 鈥� before the August 31 deadline.
Argent said she was surprised to learn she had been nominated.
鈥淚t鈥檚 a humbling honour but I very much appreciate that people have taken the time to submit a nomination for me and the work that PFLAG does,鈥� Argent said.
鈥淎fter all, what I do is the tip of the iceberg and if it makes a difference, then that鈥檚 the most important thing.
鈥淏eing nominated shows that people appreciate what I do and what the organisation does and that we are indeed making a difference.鈥�
In announcing her nomination, the NADC noted Argent鈥檚 decades-long advocacy on behalf of gay and lesbian people, taking that message to Australia鈥檚 human rights commissions and to the highest levels of Government as part of the 2020 Summit.
In July Argent was the subject of an ABC Australian Story documentary. The program told of her involvement in PFLAG which began when one of her sons came out, and interviewed people she has touched along the way.
The Australian of the Year awards winners鈥� names will be released on Australia Day, January 26, 2011.
