PHOTO: Astronomer, Donna Burton from Coonabarabran was awarded a Medal of the Order of Australia in the King’s Birthday Honours List
Life-long star-gazer and accomplished astronomer and scientist, Donna Burton from Coonabarabran initially thought her nomination to be awarded Medal of the Order of Australia (OAM) was a scam.
“I actually deleted the email,” she said. “But when I found out it really was from the Governor General’s office, I was shocked and surprised to be nominated for something I love. I have no idea who originally nominated me and I’m still not sure if I want to thump them or hug them!”
Ms Burton or Donna The Astronomer, has had a lifelong love of the stars and was given her unique moniker from some young children at Baradine.
“I was visiting a group of young students in Baradine to show them Mercury crossing the sun, they made up a song that, instead of being Dora the Explorer, I was Donna The Astronomer.”
The name stuck and Ms Burton used it as the name of her business, giving people a personal experience of the night sky…