OK..here is a quick review:
Professor Judith Whitworth AC
Australian of the Year for Australian Capital Territory - Recipient
Judith Whitworth is the Director of the John Curtin School of Medical Research and the Howard Florey Professor of Medical Research at the Australian National University.
Steve Waugh AO
Australian of the Year for New South Wales - Recipient
Steve Waugh has played representative cricket for Australia since 1985, and is the current test captain.
Patricia Miller
Australian of the Year for Northern Territory - Recipient
Pat Miller has worked throughout her life to challenge racial discrimination and address the fundamental causes of the problems that beset many aboriginal communities in the Northern Territory.
Steve Irwin
Australian of the Year for Queensland - Recipient
An environmentalist, conservationist, naturalist, and animal lover, Steve Irwin is a unique Aussie character.
Mem Fox AM
Australian of the Year for South Australia - Recipient
An admired author, Mem Fox is best known as one of Australia's most popular children's book writers. Her famed Possum Magic sold over one million copies in its first ten years of publication and is still in hard-back.
Michael Kent AM
Australian of the Year for Tasmania - Recipient
Michael Kent has contributed significantly to Tasmanian business, economy, community, charity and sport. A former leading businessman in the retail industry he has been active in supporting business and lobbying government through the Food Industry Council and Tasmanian Chamber of Commerce.
Bernadette McMenamin
Australian of the Year for Victoria - Recipient
In 1993 Bernadette McMenamin founded and championed Child Wise Limited, a not for profit company which works towards the attainment of a world free from child exploitation, child sex abuse and child sex tourism.
Dr Fiona Wood AM
Australian of the Year for Western Australia - Recipient
In October 2002 Fiona Wood made headlines. She and her team treated badly burned Bali victims at the Royal Perth Hospital with spray on skin, her own medical breakthrough that is revolutionising burns treatment.
I'm sorry...but Fiona Wood has my vote over a paid sports star, an author who has made millions out of writing a book and a TV star.