Four Greek Australians were named as finalists for the 2013 Australian of the Year held last Saturday. There was only one national finalist for Australia’s local hero and that was Sergeant Dimitrios (Jim) Bellos. Dr Len Notaras AM, trauma physician, was a state finalist for the Northern Territory, Michael Angelakis AM, entrepreneurial businessman, was a State Finalist for South Australian Senior Australian of the Year, and Professor John Boyages, breast cancer specialist, was a state finalist for New South Wales.
Sergeant Jim Bellos is the Queensland Police Service’s cross-cultural liaison officer for southern Brisbane, an area that is home to 200 communities speaking 150 languages and practising more than 130 religions. Over the years, Jim has built a relationship of trust, respect and understanding between these communities and the police.
Dr Len Notaras is the Executive Director of the National Critical Care and Trauma Response Centre in the Northern Territory. The Centre is responsible for the care of seriously ill or injured patients in Australia’s far north, including the Top End of the Northern Territory, coastal waters and nearby parts of the Indonesian archipelago, Timor-Leste and Papua New Guinea. When 62 casualties of the Bali bombing were airlifted to Darwin, Len was the Medical Superintendent at Royal Darwin Hospital.
Each week TV personality and businessman Michael Angelakis entertains his fans with his larrikin approach to cooking but behind the scenes he is also a stalwart of many charities and community organisations. A cancer survivor himself, Michael is an ambassador for the Cancer Council of Australia, a supporter of Royal Adelaide Hospital, the Salvation Army and the Mary Potter Hospice. He is best know for being the Managing Director of the third-generation family-owned business Angelakis Brothers.
Oncologist Professor John Boyages has pioneered innovative approaches in the detection and treatment of breast cancer. As the inaugural director of the Western Breast Screening Unit, he treats over 60,000 women annually. As founder of the Westmead Breast Cancer Unit, John was responsible for the establishment of screening clinics in the lingerie departments of Myer stores. He also transformed the capacity of four public hospitals to enable the transmission of digital images to a central diagnostic centre within seconds after a mammogram.
Former editor and businesswoman Ita Buttrose was awarded the Australian of the Year 2013.