
In 2005, Dr Fiona Wood was pronounced Australian of the Year for her groundbreaking work in burns treatment. She invented spray-on skin (aerosol-delivered cell-clusters), which revolutionised outcomes for burns patients and was instrumental to her success in treating the victims of the 2002 Bali bombings.
This footage from the Australian of the Year Concert outlines Wood’s achievements but subtly places emphasis on her personal life. The clips package shows her relaxing with her six children on the beach and talking about drawing inspiration from her patients’ courage. Gala productions like this concert frequently take an aspirational, human-interest angle, drawing out the relatable aspects of extraordinary people.
The National Film and Sound Archive of Australia acknowledges Australia’s Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples as the Traditional Custodians of the land on which we work and live and gives respect to their Elders both past and present.