Nicole a 'living treasure'
2004-03-15 11:10
Sydney - Hollywood's Australian superstars Nicole Kidman and Russell Crowe were named on Sunday as Living National Treasures by the National Trust of Australia.
The new treasures list also included Steve Waugh, Dr Catherine Hamlin, who has treated women suffering from birth injuries in Ethiopia for 30 years, former athlete John Landy and tennis player Pat Rafter.
The latest list followed a request by the trust last October for nominations to replace 15 "national treasures" who had died since the inaugural vote for 100 treasures was held in 1997. Australians in their thousands responded.
The 15 who died included artist Arthur Boyd, cricket great Sir Donald Bradman, actress Ruth Cracknell and folk singer Slim Dusty.
Living National Treasures Committee chairman Michael Ball said the fact there was such a broad range of people on the list emphasised people had put a lot of thought into their nominations.
"It celebrates those people in our community who have helped make a difference to our heritage and our culture," Ball said.
"The total list represents a very good sense of decency in the Australian people.
"We are celebrating those individuals who have achieved great deeds through a variety of fields and continue to make a difference for the betterment of our society."
- SAPA