Double recognition for Senior Australian of the Year after SA award mix-up

The Australia Day Council has announced joint winners for the South Australian 2026 Senior Australian of the Year award after an administrative error caused it to be given, withdrawn and then awarded again.

Both meteorological researcher Malcolm Benoy and sound designer James Currie were announced as the recipients at different times during the ceremony on November 14.

Mr Benoy was announced as the winner, but was stopped before giving his acceptance speech, with hosts telling the crowd the "judges were conferring".

"Just hold that thought a minute. There's been a controversy," host, ABC Radio Adelaide presenters Sonia Feldhoff, said.

Shortly after, the hosts explained the "wrong winner was in the envelope" and went on to announce sound designer James Currie had won.

But the drama wasn't over, with the hosts again returning to clarify the award was still not with its rightful owner.

"Apparently, it's our notes that are incorrect. Let's scrub the last five minutes. Let's start all over again," Ms Feldhoff said.

They then announced Mr Benoy for a second time.

The South Australian selection panel reconvened after the announcement and unanimously agreed that both Mr Currie and Mr Benoy would be selected as a Senior Australian of the Year for South Australia.

In a statement, the Australia Day Council said Mr Currie and Mr Benoy were tied in first place following voting by the selection panel but an administrative error inaccurately recorded the resolved result.

National Australia Day Council CEO Mark Fraser said Mr Benoy and Mr Currie were standouts in a field of exceptional South Australian Australians of the Year for 2026.

"We trust our mistake does not detract from their outstanding achievements and contributions to South Australia and the nation," Mr Fraser said.

"The Australia Day Council of South Australia selection panel determined that both Mr Benoy and Mr Currie would be named as 2026 Senior Australians of the Year for South Australia."

"As a result, following consultation with Mr Benoy and Mr Currie, South Australia will have two exceptional finalists for the national 2026 Australian of the Year Awards in January 2026."

The council said they were grateful to the men for their patience and understanding and that they had both acted with the grace befitting the award.

Governor of South Australia and Patron of the Australia Day Council of South Australia, Her Excellency the Honourable Frances Adamson, will host a reception on November 20 to present the award to Mr Currie. Mr Benoy, already awarded as a 2026 Senior Australian of the Year for South Australia, will also be in attendance.

They join the three other 2026 South Australian recipients, SA Australian of the Year Katherine Bennell-Pegg, SA Young Australian of the Year Chloe Wyatt-Jasper, and South Australia's Local Hero Ayesha Fariha Safdar.

Malcolm 'Mac' Benoy has made a significant contribution to climate change research in his role as a volunteer citizen scientist, helping to preserve valuable records and data relating to South Australia's meteorological history.

Over the past two decades, 78-year-old Mac has volunteered with the Bureau of Meteorology in South Australia, where he set up a citizen science group to record and preserve valuable hand-written meteorological records from the 19th century. Under Mac's astute guidance, the group has digitised over 90,000 synoptic charts and related documents, providing an invaluable research tool for modern-day climatologists.

International climate change and meteorological researchers have used the group's records to reconstruct historical weather patterns in the southern hemisphere, helping to better understand how the global climate is changing.

Mac's professionalism, enthusiasm and insight continue to guide the team of citizen scientists in its work to document and preserve critical weather data.

James Currie's filmography reads like a list of South Australia's most successful films over the past 50 years.

His work as a sound designer, recordist and mixer includes titles such as Breaker Morant, The Lighthorsemen, Bad Boy Bubby, The Tracker, Wolf Creek, Ten Canoes, Red Dog and, most recently, the AACTA award-winning documentary My Name is Gulpilil.

James has worked with many of South Australia's leading directors over his career and has won multiple awards for his lifetime of work. He has been instrumental in establishing and growing the state's film industry, particularly as an authority on sound design. His use of location sound, most notably in remote Indigenous communities, has helped create a uniquely Australian soundscape in film.

James, 79, is generous in sharing his expertise and knowledge with other practitioners, especially students, creating an enduring legacy of excellence in sound design now and into the future.

With reporting by Phoebe Loomes.