The evolution of Australia's top honour

By Tracey Ferrier
Updated January 21 2020 - 8:03am, first published 8:00am
Immunologist Sir Macfarlane Burnet became the inaugural Australian of the Year in 1960.
Immunologist Sir Macfarlane Burnet became the inaugural Australian of the Year in 1960.

When the Australian of the Year awards were born 60 years ago, the nation was still carrying a rather large colonial chip on its shoulder and had something to prove to the world.

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