Gina Rinehart was named Western Australian of the Year 2023 at Perth’s Crown Ballroom on Friday night, sporting a bruised face which she explained was due to having a melanoma removed.
The mining magnate said it was a “wonderful honour” to be recognised but explained she had just left hospital after having the medical procedure.
“I should probably remind you all, please do the sun cream, do the hats and do the check-ups, please, which I didn’t do,” she said, holding a fan to the side of her face.
Accepting the award from Mark McGowan just a few hours before the end of his six-year reign as premier of Western Australia, Rinehart said a lot of people were going to miss him and asked everyone to give him a round of applause.
Despite being recognised by the judges for her personal achievement in transforming Hancock Prospecting from a company that was suffering from financial difficulties into a huge success, Rinehart used her acceptance speech to reflect on what the company achieved as a whole.
“It’s actually a very long way from where my family company was 30 years ago and I’m incredibly proud of what we have achieved in this time for our company and what we’ve been able to contribute to West Australia and our country and our future,” she said.
Rinehart’s charitable objectives support a number of medical, sporting, educational, health and community organisations and she serves as patron of Australia’s internationally renowned Olympic swimming, rowing, and volleyball and synchronised swimming teams.
Her leadership and contribution to charities includes support for breast cancer and Telethon.
Other winners on the night included politician Ken Wyatt, the first indigenous Australian elected to the House of Representatives; composer and musical director Iain Grandage; surgeon and medical research pioneer Professor Marcus Atlas; autism researcher and science communicator Professor Andrew Whitehouse; paralympian Brad Ness and athlete and disability advocate Madison Heady.
Celebrate WA Chair, Mike Anghie said Rinheart’s commitment, selflessness and compassion were values we should all strive towards, and her impact on not only WA but the country could not be overstated.
“I also congratulate all of the category winners, whose outstanding achievements in their respective fields really do represent the diversity of talent present in Western Australia,” he said.
