Should Jessica Watson have been Young Australian of the Year?

[Bonifacio]

From a neutralist viewpoint on your discussion, sailing is not hard to do at all. My father sails (we aren't rich, it's a very old and small boat) and I have sailed on my own, it's pretty easy however spending such a great deal of time in solitude is a very very difficult thing to do. Yes the technical side of things can get dangerous when you're in rough seas and in remote locations, that's the part where her achievement fails. She was saved several times thus proving that her 'courage' was in fact stupidity as she got herself into a situation she couldn't handle.

Sport is as important as research in scientific fields, sports stars drive our economy and provide inspiration for many sick people as well as inspiration for people of all walks of life and help us to overcome adversity ( Lance Armstrong, Muhammad Ali, Jesse Owens).

[Eriny]

I understand for sure how sports people can do good things, but I don't think she really did anything good that was separate from herself in this case. It was an achievement, sure, but not one of national importance. Additionally, there are other ways in which people can do inspirational things which are actually more directly effective at really helping people.

[Russ]

I disagree with everyone saying she's just a rich kid etc. but I think there are better candidates for YA of the year. Sailing solo around the world is an impressive achievement, but it's a solo achievement, I don't really buy the "inspiration" line

[uhmmaybe]

She only really inspires little kids..

Looking at the past winners, there seems to be a bias towards athletes. I'm not trying to criticise athletes but how do they even meet the requirements for the award..

[D27RII]

I have to agree with most of you here. Although sailing around the world may not be an easy task, what exactly is the point? what does it acheive?

The personal benefits will no doubt be significant, but in the perspective of the nation, it is not an act which is designed to "help" anyone, but rather gain attention and publicity for herself and our country  - which may also be a good thing.

As for "inspiration", sailing around the world can be quite dangerous, and if anything, this would inspire reckless behavior rather than some other equally as hard and constructive work that volunteer workers do in the health care department, when caring for homeless or working in developing countries.

[MuggedByReality]

What? Putting in a face doesn't make it less offensive to call my comments asinine. It's the equivalent of 'no offence but...'

I don't know anything about sailing, but I do know it's expensive and that there are many people who couldn't do it not because they are less skilled/courageous but because they didn't cultivate the skill at some country club. I don't think of her as courageous because it didn't really benefit anyone. I'm not also not in a position to judge on skill but didn't she almost get hit by some giant boat early on? I mean, sure, it's cool that she wanted to sail around the world and did, but seriously? Australian of the year? I don't find spending so much time and money on a freaking boat very impressive.

And yes, in terms of actually getting to see the world and doing something that has an actual point to it other than to say 'I'm the youngest person to have done this thing', flying around the world is a more impressive thing to do.

I honestly do not understand why we reward people so much just because they're reasonably adept at something sporty. It's just so pointless! We should be rewarding researchers or people actually out there trying to change the world.

 
  I take your point about athletes being overly lauded. If, however, JW's achievements and her subsequent status as a positive role model have a ripple effect -of inspiring other young people to chase their own rainbows- she will have achieved something tangible.

 You're one of my all-time favourite members. I was just a tad ticked off by your flippant tone on account of her being rich; reminiscent of the view that getting a high ATAR is easy if you go to an expensive school.

[iffets12345]

What? Putting in a face doesn't make it less offensive to call my comments asinine. It's the equivalent of 'no offence but...'

I don't know anything about sailing, but I do know it's expensive and that there are many people who couldn't do it not because they are less skilled/courageous but because they didn't cultivate the skill at some country club. I don't think of her as courageous because it didn't really benefit anyone. I'm not also not in a position to judge on skill but didn't she almost get hit by some giant boat early on? I mean, sure, it's cool that she wanted to sail around the world and did, but seriously? Australian of the year? I don't find spending so much time and money on a freaking boat very impressive.

And yes, in terms of actually getting to see the world and doing something that has an actual point to it other than to say 'I'm the youngest person to have done this thing', flying around the world is a more impressive thing to do.

I honestly do not understand why we reward people so much just because they're reasonably adept at something sporty. It's just so pointless! We should be rewarding researchers or people actually out there trying to change the world.

   
  I take your point about athletes being overly lauded. If, however, JW's achievements and her subsequent status as a positive role model have a ripple effect -of inspiring other young people to chase their own rainbows- she will have achieved something tangible.

 You're one of my all-time favourite members. I was just a tad ticked off by your flippant tone on account of her being rich; reminiscent of the view that getting a high ATAR is easy if you go to an expensive school.

I didn't find it inspiring.
With my mindset, I ask myself what is the point of sailing around the world... and then I can only see the personal satisfaction Jessica Watson gets. I don't find it inspiring because I can't really relate to it, and I don't see the purpose in her "dream," in its practicality or in its intrinsic merit. Like for me, reading all classic literature is a personal goal but I don't see why it should inspire anybody else...

[Eriny]

What? Putting in a face doesn't make it less offensive to call my comments asinine. It's the equivalent of 'no offence but...'

I don't know anything about sailing, but I do know it's expensive and that there are many people who couldn't do it not because they are less skilled/courageous but because they didn't cultivate the skill at some country club. I don't think of her as courageous because it didn't really benefit anyone. I'm not also not in a position to judge on skill but didn't she almost get hit by some giant boat early on? I mean, sure, it's cool that she wanted to sail around the world and did, but seriously? Australian of the year? I don't find spending so much time and money on a freaking boat very impressive.

And yes, in terms of actually getting to see the world and doing something that has an actual point to it other than to say 'I'm the youngest person to have done this thing', flying around the world is a more impressive thing to do.

I honestly do not understand why we reward people so much just because they're reasonably adept at something sporty. It's just so pointless! We should be rewarding researchers or people actually out there trying to change the world.

   
  I take your point about athletes being overly lauded. If, however, JW's achievements and her subsequent status as a positive role model have a ripple effect -of inspiring other young people to chase their own rainbows- she will have achieved something tangible.

 You're one of my all-time favourite members. I was just a tad ticked off by your flippant tone on account of her being rich; reminiscent of the view that getting a high ATAR is easy if you go to an expensive school.

I don't think that getting a high ATAR is ever easy and I don't recall ever saying that, but yes, for sure it's easier for an average student to get a higher ATAR at an expensive school (although it doesn't necessarily have to be expensive) than at an underrepresented school, which is why I presume people choose to send their children there. The ATAR is a flawed measure though anyway, so it is reasonable to expect certain inequities to crop up. I think that it's also a lot easier to sail around the world if you're rich too. Sure, it's still possible if you're poor, but it's harder. I'm sorry if it offended you, and of course her being rich doesn't make her achievement less valuable, but I suppose it puts it in context a little. But also, to put my remarks in context a little, events in my personal life recently have made me a little too cynical of recent and a recognise that. Nonetheless, I definitely stand by what I said that there is surely some better candidate for the award and in the wider scheme of things, sailing around the world is a bit trivial.

I suppose the ripple effect would be something tangible, the problem is that we don't really know for sure if she has done that. Also, people do great things for themselves all the time which could be considered inspirational, so I don't personally think that alone is really enough.

[ninwa]

Personally, I'd rather the YA were someone who makes tangible contributions to society - e.g. extensive volunteer work - rather than someone who might possibly maybe perhaps somewhat inspire someone somewhere to do something.

[iffets12345]

Personally, I'd rather the YA were someone who makes tangible contributions to society - e.g. extensive volunteer work - rather than someone who might possibly maybe perhaps somewhat inspire someone somewhere to do something.

My sentiments exactly.

[Duck]

What she did was reckless, pointless and selfish. She endangered her own life and encouraged others to endanger theirs while expecting taxpayers to save her if she got into any trouble along the way. Not only that but what kind of message does this send to kids? Dear youth of Australia, you can achieve anything you strive for because this is the land of opportunity (for priviliged white children.)

[MuggedByReality]

What she did was reckless, pointless and selfish. She endangered her own life and encouraged others to endanger theirs while expecting taxpayers to save her if she got into any trouble along the way. Not only that but what kind of message does this send to kids? Dear youth of Australia, you can achieve anything you strive for because this is the land of opportunity (for priviliged white children.)

Some kids wouldn't be able to afford weekly music lessons, or the fees required for a season of soccer. Does that mean others who can afford them should refrain from participating in those activities?

[MuggedByReality]

    Just had a little look at the past winners; they seem to be fairly evenly split between those whose achievements are purely personal, purely altruistic, or a combination of the two.


 I shudder to think what those of you who are against the award going to ppl with purely personal achievements would say about the 1995 winner -she got hers for having set up a successful lipstick firm.

 

[Duck]

What she did was reckless, pointless and selfish. She endangered her own life and encouraged others to endanger theirs while expecting taxpayers to save her if she got into any trouble along the way. Not only that but what kind of message does this send to kids? Dear youth of Australia, you can achieve anything you strive for because this is the land of opportunity (for priviliged white children.)

Some kids wouldn't be able to afford weekly music lessons, or the fees required for a season of soccer. Does that mean others who can afford them should refrain from participating in those activities?

Soccer and music lessons are significantly cheaper than sailing lessons. Anyway, neither weekly music lessons nor an organized season are required to take part in either activity. I have been playing guitar for 3 years without a single lesson and anyone can go down to the park and kick a soccer ball with friends/family.

[Bonifacio]

Playing Soccer for a good club at a high level is very very expensive man, you're looking at ~$1000 in club fees + ~$1000 in other fees.