COTA Australia congratulates 2025 Senior Australian of the Year, Brother Thomas Oliver Pickett.
COTA Australia - the leading advocacy organisation for older people - Chief Executive Officer, Patricia Sparrow said the contribution Brother Thomas Oliver Pickett, who co-founded Wheelchairs For Kids in 1996, has made to Australia cannot be underestimated.
"We congratulate Brother Thomas Oliver Pickett for being awarded the great honour of being the 2025 Senior Australian of the Year," Ms Sparrow said.
"Brother Pickett is proof that age is no barrier to what we can accomplish.
"The work of Brother Thomas Oliver Pickett to help children right across the world is nothing short of remarkable."
Ms Sparrow also congratulated all the Senior Australian of the Year finalists for their valuable work in improving the lives of so many people. This year's esteemed finalists included:
• Senior Australian of the Year for the NT, Michael Foley OAM
• Senior Australians of the Year for the ACT – Peter Ralston OAM and Marilyn Ralston
• Senior Australian of the Year for NSW – Dr Karl Kruszelnicki AM
• Senior Australian of the Year for Western Australia – Brother Thomas Oliver Pickett AM
• Senior Australian of the Year for Victoria – Dr Peter Brukner OAM
• Senior Australian of the Year for South Australia – Charles Jackson OAM
• Senior Australian of the Year for Tasmania – Associate Professor Penelope Blomfield
• Senior Australian of the Year for Queensland – Dr Bronwyn Herbert
"Every finalist has contributed enormously to their communities. They've improved the lives of countless individuals and their actions will span generations."
"There truly is no age at which we stop being capable of extraordinary things. Brother Pickett and the rest of the incredible finalists in the Senior Australian of the Year awards are living proof of that.
