“Mostly I am humbled to be in such extraordinary company, and determined to live up to the magnificent efforts of Fred Chaney and others who were recipients before me,” she said.

“Perhaps the most perfect moment was hearing that my 18-month-old grandson saw the presentation on TV and gave a shriek of joy, pointing and doing a dance of excitement through the entire speech.” 

Ms French said that when she stood next to three incredible wom-

en, Australian of the Year Rosie Batty, Young Australian of the Year Drisana Levitzke-Gray and Australia’s Local Hero Juliette Wright, it was impossible not to feel even more committed to ensuring that every child and adult had access to books.

She said teachers needed to be given the time, money and resources that literacy required. 

“If one child fails then we have all failed, as parents and community guardians of our children’s future,” she said. 

Ms French has also campaigned against the activities of Unity Mining’s Dargues Gold Mine at Majors Creek near her home.

The mine has applied to vary its development consent to use cyanide for onsite processing.

It comes after it was prosecuted in the Land and Environment Court for polluting the nearby creek with sediment runoff during the early stages of the mine’s construction.

Ms French said she would keep fighting against the proposed changes this year.

“We are also custodians of the land for future generations,” she said.

“In 2013 I saw the land I love polluted, time and again, and conditions laid down in the Land and Environment court disregarded “Even as I accepted the award, I knew that the land I love is threatened once again.”