Daily London
An awkward blunder has seen the wrong winner twice read out at the prestigious Australian of the Year awards in South Australia.
The winner of 2026 Senior South Australian of the Year was called on stage last night and handed a trophy only to be told there had been a mix-up.
But that wasn’t the last twist, because the new winner was then also told there had been a mistake.
Malcolm Benoy was the first to be called out at the ceremony.
But as the weather scientist walked to the stage, he was told to hold because there was a “controversy”.
“The wrong winner was in the envelope and we do apologise for that,” one of the hosts said.
There was a sea of stunned faces as a new winner was declared.
“The 2026 Senior Australian of the Year is in fact … James Curry,” they said.
But what followed next was even more confusing, the National Australia Day Council chief executive Mark Fraser suddenly taking to the stage.
“We had it right all the way along, I don’t know what has transpired behind the scenes, but it’s incorrect information,” Fraser said.
“It is Malcolm Benoy, I’m terribly sorry for the embarrassment.”
Despite the gaffe, Benoy was in good spirits when he accepted the award for the second time.
History-making astronaut Katherine Bennell-Pegg was crowned 2026 South Australia’s Australian of the Year.
She is the first in the nation to qualify as an astronaut under Australia’s space program.
