Life Education’s Gold Harold Awards – Lights, Camera, Gold Harold!

Our annual celebration to honour those who have made a positive difference in Australian children's lives

Life Education’s glittering annual Gold Harold Awards acknowledges leading Australian individuals and organisations that have made a significant contribution to the health and wellbeing of Australia’s children and young people.  Her Excellency Professor Marie Bashir AC CVO, Governor of NSW was the Guest of Honour at the Hilton Sydney, with celebrities and stars of media mixing with captains of industry and sporting personalities.

This year’s outstanding list of nominees, winners and presenters was a wonderful tribute to those who do so much to improve the future of Australia’s children.  Hosted by radio celebrity, Jason Morrison, the evening featured performances by Aussie legend Normie Rowe AM and Wayne Scott Kermond.  Introductory addresses were given by LEA Chairman, Tony Hasham AM, Event Sponsor Omnilab Media, represented by Sunita Gloster and Her Excellency the Governor.

Four nominees in each of eleven categories were honoured on the night, but only one winner got to take home the Gold Harold Statue.

The Corporate Award –
The Winner: Wesfarmers Limited, accepted by Stewart Butel, Managing Director of Wesfarmers Resources
Presented by Grahame Mapp AM.
Sponsored by BDO, represented by Rob Peck, Partner, Tax & Advisory.
The other Nominees were: AMP Foundation, Sanitarium Health & Wellbeing and Telstra Foundation.

The Education Award –
The Winner: Australian Children’s Music Foundation, represented by Don Spencer AM.
Presented by the Hon Adrian Piccoli MP, Minister for Education.
Sponsored by Educational Experience, represented by Angela Gibson, General Manager.
The other Nominees were: Bluearth, GoodStart Childcare and Yalari – Educating Indigenous Children.

The Entertainment Award –
The Winner: Angry Anderson AM.
Presented by Ami Williamson, representing John Williamson AM.
Sponsored by AdvancedLife Photography, represented by Maurie Isherwood, Director.
The other Nominees were: Cate Blanchett, Deborra-lee Furness and Sigrid Thornton.

Harold’s Best Mate Award –
The Winner: Max Markson
The Award was presented by Tony Hasham AM, Chairman of Life Education and sponsored by Omnilab Media, represented by Grahame Mapp AM.

The Health & Medicine Award –
The Winner: Dr Antony Kidman AM.
Presented by Dr Jeff McMullen AM.
Sponsored by Johnson & Johnson, represented by Phil Lynch, Managing Director Pacific.
The other Nominees were: Dr Catherine Hamlin AC, represented by Mark Bennett, CEO Hamlin Fistula Ethiopia, Dr Sam Prince and Dr Ros Worthington OAM.

The Humanitarian Award –
The Winner: Harry Triguboff AO.
Presented by Her Excellency Professor Marie Bashir AC CVO, Governor of NSW.
Sponsored by Allens Arthur Robinson, represented by Tim Frost, Partner.
The other Nominees were: Fred Chaney AO, Gail Kelly and Robert Tickner.

The Media Award –
The Winner: John Brennan, represented by his son, Peter Brennan, Program Director 2UE 954
Presented by Ita Buttrose AO OBE.
Sponsored by Air Canada, represented by Jeannie Foster, General Manager.
The other Nominees were: Natarsha Belling, Dr Jeff McMullen AM and Adam Spencer.

The Sport Award –
The Winner: Jim Stynes OAM, represented by Kathy Hoyt, General Manager NSW Reach.
Presented by Nathan Bracken.
Sponsored by Nissan Motor Co Australia, represented by John Watson, State Fleet Sales Manager.
The other Nominees were: Mario Fenech and Phil Kearns.

Additionally, the Ted Noffs Staff Award was presented to Suzi Spedding, Life Education educator in the Northern Territory, the Bruce Gyngell Volunteer Award was presented to Martin Pater, Board member of Life Education Victoria and the inaugural School Award was won by Ormeau State School in Queensland, and represented by Principal, Heather Andrew.  All three awards were presented by Life Education CEO, David Ballhausen and sponsored by Budget, represented by Licensee, Paul Wheelton OAM.

Life Education, a leading Australian charity providing drug and health education, reaches more than 600,000 Australian school children every year.  In its 32 years, Life Education and its iconic mascot, Healthy Harold the Giraffe, have empowered more than four million Aussie youngsters with the knowledge, skills and attitude they need to make good decisions about their health. The Gold Harold Awards are a way to recognise those that have worked tirelessly to ensure Life Education’s success and others who have devoted so much of their time and energy to the healthy development of children.