Editorial
Every older generation can be found bemoaning the future of the world in the hands of the next generation. Yet, if you were to take a look at it objectively, there would be few generations who have actually not left the world in a better state than what they found it.
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If the Australian of the Year Awards announced in Canberra on Monday night are anything at all to go by then this country in particular should consider itself "The Lucky Country" indeed. With people like Grace Tame and Isobel Marshall plotting the path to the future Australia, the older generation should sleep that little more soundly at night.
Read more: Grace Tame named Australian of the Year
At just 15, Grace Tame was groomed and raped by her 58-year-old teacher at a private girls' school in Hobart. Under archaic legislation in Tasmania, Ms Tame was not allowed to speak out about the crimes carried out upon her even though her attacker was jailed and even though her perpetrator could speak. Ms Tame became the hidden face of the #LetHerSpeak campaign and took her case to be free to speak out all the way to the Supreme Court and won. She now works to help others understand how grooming works and how to avoid the situation she found herself in.
"Grace has demonstrated extraordinary courage, using her voice to push for legal reform and raise public awareness about the impacts of sexual violence," the Australian of the Year awards panel said in a statement. Grace Tame has made and is continuing to make the world a better place.
South Australian Isobel Marshall won the Young Australian of the Year for her fight to eradicate period poverty, the lack of adequate sanitary products which can have a huge impact on the freedoms of young women in some countries.
Just over four years ago the 22-year-old crowdfunded $56,000 in 2018, alongside Eloise Hall, and established the charity TABOO, a brand of ethically sourced organic pads and tampons. The charity has done incredible work both abroad and in Australia. With the likes of Grace and Isobel and their many fellow young Australians, we should feel very proud of the younger generation of this country.