What You Need To Know About Australian Of The Year David Morrison

With Australia Day – and a somewhat unexpected Hottest 100 winner – behind us, it’s time to look all the way back to January 25 and meet our newly-decorated Australian of the Year.

At a ceremony in Canberra on Monday, David Morrison was named 2016’s Australian of the Year.

Not familiar with Lieutenant General David Lindsay Morrison AO?

For several decades he served the Australian Army, eventually appointed as a Member of the Order of Australia in 1999 for his service.

In 2011 he began serving as Chief of Army, until his retirement in 2015.

It was during this time that he began investigating the discrimination of women among his ranks, resulting in the suspension of three members of the Army. In 2013, he appeared in an impassioned viral video where he informed anyone who was not interested in an inclusive Army could “get out.”

He also dropped this incredible piece of knowledge, regarding what we are willing to accept in Australian society: “The standard you walk past is the standard you accept.”

It’s powerful stuff.

Interestingly, Morrison shares the credit for his iconic address with speechwriter Catherine McGregor, a fellow nominee for Australian of the Year in 2016 and the world’s highest-ranking transgender military officer. (Morrison supported McGregor during her transition, refusing to accept her resignation when she went public.) If her name had been read out by Malcolm Turnbull on Monday evening, she would have been the first transgender woman to receive the AOTY accolade.

Since 2013, Morrison has continued to advocate for equality, which, in conjunction with his service to Australia, no doubt secured his victory.

During his acceptance speech, Morrison stressed that this would continue to be his focus in 2016.

Over five incendiary, moving minutes, he spoke of how many Australians are denied the bounty of this country, “because of their gender; because of the god they believe in; because of their racial heritage; because they’re not able-bodied; because of their sexual orientation.”

He began his speech by recognising the original owners of the land and speaking to the complicated relationship Australians have with Australia Day.

“[I]t will, for some of our Indigenous brothers and sisters, be a day of emotional conflict, and we can celebrate and commemorate but still respect those views,” he said.

He also honoured Rosie Batty, 2015’s AOTY, for her efforts to combat domestic violence. “It is up to us in our lifetimes to do something about it, and I look forward to contributing to her great work,” he added.

He later concluded by pushing for the burgeoning republican movement. The Australian Republic Movement’s Peter FitzSimons has already said David Morrison would be “an outstanding president or governor-general.”

This is going to be an interesting year.