North-West arts identity Scott Rankin has been named Tasmanian Australian of the Year for 2018.
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Mr Rankin is most well-known for his work with arts and theatre organisation, Big hART, which promotes stories of disadvantage and social injustice.
Through the organisation, he has worked with more than 50 communities across Australia, shining light on domestic violence, incarceration, addiction, homelessness, or inter-generational injustice faced by Aboriginals.
In accepting his award on Friday, he said it was an artist’s duty to tell “invisible” and “inconvenient stories”, ensuring they received acknowledgement in the mainstream.
His films have been featured on Australian television numerous times and screened at international and national film festivals.
“It’s about inclusivity, and everyone having the right to thrive, not just the lucky like me and those who enough privilege,” Mr Rankin said.
“That’s worth being Australian of the Year for, to be able to drive change, build our community and tell the stories that are unseen and unheard.”
He said he felt compelled to tell stories in different ways after seeing his Burnie community devastated by the closure of its paper mill 25 years ago, resulting in masses of job losses.
Mr Rankin said it was the voiceless youth he considered most impacted by the closure.
“They were hurting because of the implications for their families,” he said.
As an artist, he said he never felt restrained from following his passion or getting his material into the mainstream because he lived in a regional place.
“Burnie is a hotbed of creativity,” he said.
“You can get down and do some good work in the privacy of the North-West Coast.”
He is now an Australian of the Year finalist which will be announced on Australia Day.
A 29-year-old dentist from Blackmans Bay has won the 2018 Tasmanian Young Australian of the Year award.
Jessica Manuela was acknowledged for her work in improving the oral health in the state’s Aboriginal communities.
She has established two dental practices since starting her work and has 4000 patients.
The 2018 Tasmanian Senior Australian of the Year was named as Coal Valley organic farmer, Tony Scherer.
Mr Scherer, 75, has been known for promoting sustainable farming methods for more than 50 years.
The Tasmanian Local Hero was named as breast cancer fund-raiser Judi Adams. Her staging of special events has raised $400,000 for cancer research since she started campaigning 14 years ago.