After much scientific analysis, one of our resident Aussies, Nic Ruecroft, has developed a list of her Top Ten famous Australians - although the omission of Kylie and Jason has already raised a few eyebrows with the rest of the team!
1. Sir Howard Florey, he applied the findings of a Scottish professor and used penicillin in laboratory tests, the results of which saved countless lives
2. Fred Hollows, a specialist in treating trachoma who gave sight back to countless people across the world
3. Errol Flynn, originally from Tasmania and the highest-paid Hollywood star in the 1930s, Joan Crawford said he was “the most beautiful man who ever lived”
4. Barry Humphries, satirist and performer (as Dame Edna Everage), award winning writer and accomplished landscape painter
5. Dame Nellie Melba, the great soprano
6. Norman Lindsay, painter, etcher, sculptor and writer of the iconic children’s book The Magic Pudding
7. Barry Marshall whose (somewhat controversial) actions have helped in the understanding and treatment of stomach ulcers
8. The Rev Dr John Flynn, he treated people across the outback of Australia and started what is now known as the Royal Flying Doctor Service
9. Sir Douglas Mawson, the Antarctic explorer who attempted to circumnavigate the Antarctic and lost his whole crew, survived in impossible circumstances, and was knighted
10. Dr Elizabeth Blackburn, molecular geneticist and Australia’s first female Nobel prize winner
Bonus Australian: Cyril Callister, he invented Vegemite in 1922 and today 20 million jars are sold each year.
We'd love to hear your thoughts on anyone else who maybe should have been included so please do leave your comments below!