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3A
Courage and compassion: two vastly different
stories from award winning Australians
Arena 1A, Ground Floor
In this session, current Australians of the Year from Queensland will tell two vastly different stories.
They’ll highlight the concept of ‘measuring up’ to community expectations and needs, whilst staying
true to what they believe in and ‘going the extra mile’ to make a difference.
Our first speaker is Catherine McGregor AM, who is a writer and broadcaster and the 2016
Queensland Australian of the Year. She’s an individual of great courage and her story is very personal.
It’s about being willing to risk everything to be who you really are. She provides inspiration to anyone
struggling with an issue in their own life.
Our second joint speakers are Nic Marchesi and Lucas Patchett, the 2016 Young Australians of
the Year. Nic and Lucas heard the words of a song and found that the line, “I had a dream I stood
beneath an orange sky, with my brother standing by,” resonated with them. Their reaction was
to come up with a plan to help those less fortunate than them. After a couple of false starts they
developed the concept of a mobile laundry for the homeless: Orange Sky Laundry. Nic and Lucas
realised that it wasn’t just about washing clothes. Instead conversations, re-connecting and re-
engaging with people was of greatest value.
Catherine McGregor AM
QLD 2016 Australian of the Year (Writer,
commentator and broadcaster) (Australia)
Nic Marchesi and Lucas Patchett
2016 Young Australians of the Year
(Founders, Orange Sky Laundry)
(Australia)
Chair:
Don Luke
Chair, QIC (Australia)
Committee coordinators:
Tony Keir
(Fellow of ASFA)
, Events Research and Content Manager, ASFA
Nicolette Hughes
, Director, Product Strategy and Innovation, ASFA
Leadership
2 CPD points
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Parallel session three
1.55 – 3.25pm (90 minutes)