The Australian of the Year Awards, a prestigious event established in 1960 to celebrate outstanding achievements, were recently tarnished by a scandal involving two men who exploited insider information for personal gain.

James Dawkins won over $13,000—a significant bonus—by successfully betting on the winner of the awards from 2017 to 2019, receiving tips from Dale Young, an Australia Post worker who helped organize commemorative stamps for the winners.

Dawkins placed 48 bets based on Young's insider knowledge before the awards ceremony. 

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Among past winners, Professor Alan Mackay-Sim, an inspirational scientist, won in 2017, followed by quantum physicist Professor Michelle Simmons, and in 2019, cave divers Dr. Richard Harris and Dr. Craig Challen, celebrated for their role in a high-profile rescue in Thailand. 

Since its inception in 1960, the Australian of the Year Awards have provided a focal point for Australia Day celebrations and a forum for the recognition of outstanding achievement. For two men, they were the source of financial gain through criminal activity. 

Each year, about two weeks before the awards ceremony, Young would ring Dawkins, who would then place a flurry of bets on various accounts. 

The construction project manager from Mount Martha, on the Mornington Peninsula, placed 48 successful bets on the awards between 2017 and 2019. 

There is a lot of anger over the fact that the men exploited what is the pinnacle of success for any Australian. The Awards have among the role of honour distinguished winners like Emeritus Professor Alan Mackay-Sim, a biomedical scientist treating spinal cord injuries who won the award in 2017. 

He has been described as an international leader in stem cell research who has given hope to thousands of Australians with spinal cord injuries. 

The 2017 winner was Professor Michelle Yvonne Simmons. Michelle is a professor in quantum physics and is originally from the UK. She has been described as ‘one of the world’s top scientists. 

In 2019 the joint winners were Dr. Richard Harris and Dr. Craig Challen, cave divers.  

2019 Australians of the Year winners Dr Richard Harris and Craig Challen. (Image: Australian Associated Press / Alamy)

In July 2018, two doctors made headlines when they joined an international team to rescue a group of boys and their soccer coach from a flooded cave in Chiang Rai, Thailand. 

Both Craig and Richard were awarded the Star of Courage for unwavering and selfless bravery following the successful rescue of the trapped soccer team.

Only Award for Cheats is a Criminal Record 

The actions of the pair of cheaters drew the attention of betting companies and authorities, leading to a court hearing where both men pleaded guilty to abuse of public office. Neither had prior legal troubles, and their lawyers described their actions as "stupid" and "juvenile." 

Young resigned from Australia Post after the scandal broke. 

On Thursday, the Dandenong Magistrates Court heard it was a winning streak that drew the attention of Australian betting companies, federal police, and crime agencies. The court was told neither man had been in trouble with the law before. 

A Commonwealth prosecutor said the maximum penalty for the offending was 12 months' jail or a fine of about $16,000. 

Not the First Time Awards Have Been Targeted by Betting with Inside Information 

In January of this year, a man from Sydney's Northern Beaches was charged with allegedly using inside information to win over $5,500 by betting on five Australian of the Year award winners. 

The Australian Federal Police (AFP) claimed the man, 47, who is from Collaroy, was given information by a Commonwealth employee when placing the bets between 2017 and 2021. He allegedly received $7,542 from $1,767 worth of bets.