Olivia Newton-John and Kylie Minogue are the only women among the seven newly anointed National Living Treasures, an award sponsored by the NSW branch of the National Trust.
Joining them yesterday were, mining magnate Clive Palmer (who was chosen over Gina Rinehart), formula one champion Sir Jack Brabham, cervical cancer vaccine developer Ian Frazer, conservationist Harry Butler and broadcaster Dr Karl Kruszelnicki.
To make the list not only do the nominees have to contribute to Australian society, they also have to have a pulse. The awards were last handed out in 2004 but because six of the recipients are no longer breathing, and hence fail one of the most important criteria, the Trust, have had to to reconvene to issue a new list.
According to Fairfax: “Woman’s Day handled the voting through its website and, with the trust, came up with 100 potential treasures. All seven final choices came from the list, which had just 31 women, including the actor Cate Blanchett, the scientist and Nobel laureate Elizabeth Blackburn and the television host Kerri-Anne Kennerley.”
Who do you think missed out and who shouldn’t be on the list?
Top Comments
National Living Treasure in any other country means a person who embodies a skill or artform that is endangered, unique, irreplaceable and that we the people of that country believe should be funded and helped to pass on that rare artform or skill to young people before they pass away and their huge fund of knowledge is lost forever.....so what the heck is this Australian list about? Just another gong, a list of celebrities, a travesty of the original concept. There are many people who really fit the bill. Is our culture REALLY this vapid now? I cringe!
I am not sure why people are bothering to put names foreward. Clive Palmer being named on the list makes the whole thing a farce. Not sure if anyone else would want to receive this award.