Griffith Who's Who
Distinguished and Famous people from Griffith
Griffith is a city situated in the Murrumbidgee Irrigation Area that has produced many distinguished and famous people. From politicians to sportspeople, artists to scientists, and even war heroes, Griffith has contributed significantly to Australian society.
One of the most famous people from Griffith is the politician and former Deputy Prime Minister of Australia, Tim Fischer. Born in Lockhart, a town near Griffith, Fischer studied at Melbourne University before entering politics in 1971. He won numerous seats in the New South Wales Parliament before entering Federal politics in 1984. He was leader of the National Party from 1990 to 1999 and served as Deputy Prime Minister from 1996 to 1999.
Another notable name from Griffith is the Australian boxer, Steve Aczel. Aczel was born in Griffith in 1960 and went on to become a professional boxer. He won the Australian Super Lightweight Title in 1986 and went on to fight for the world title. He retired in 1993 with a record of 34 wins, 10 losses, and 1 draw.
Griffith has also produced a number of talented artists, including the painter and sculptor, John Perceval. Perceval was born in Forbes but grew up in Griffith, where his family owned a vineyard. He studied at the National Gallery School in Melbourne before becoming a founding member of the Heide Circle, a group of artists who lived and worked at the Heide Estate in Victoria. Perceval's work is included in many major Australian collections, including the National Gallery of Australia and the Art Gallery of New South Wales.
Griffith has also produced some notable scientists, including Dr. Bob Langlands, a mathematician who was awarded the Abel Prize in 2018. Langlands was born in New Westminster, Canada, but spent much of his career at the Institute for Advanced Study in Princeton, New Jersey. He is best known for his work on the Langlands Program, a set of conjectures that relate number theory and geometry.
Finally, Griffith can also claim some war heroes among its famous names, including Corporal Cameron Baird, who was posthumously awarded the Victoria Cross for bravery in Afghanistan in 2013. Baird was born in Burnie, Tasmania but grew up in Griffith. He joined the Australian Army in 2000 and served in East Timor, Iraq, and Afghanistan, where he was killed in action.
Griffith has an impressive list of distinguished and famous people across a range of fields. From politicians to sportspeople, artists to scientists, and war heroes, the city has produced individuals who have made significant contributions to Australian society and beyond.
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