Australian astronaut Katherine Bennell-Pegg has responded for the first time to criticism of her Australian of the Year win, saying the commentary was \u201cdisappointing\u201d. <\/p>\n
After the 44-year-old was named Australian of the Year on January 25, she became the target of some online critics who questioned whether she should have received the honour given she hasn\u2019t flown to space yet. <\/p>\n
Bennell-Pegg, who is the first astronaut to officially represent Australia and the first Australian woman to receive professional astronaut wings, has taken the criticism in her stride, instead focusing on trying to raise awareness of the lack of women in STEM and space industries. <\/p>\n
\u201cIt was disappointing,\u201d she told the Stellar podcast Something to Talk About.<\/p>\n
\u201cWhile it washes off me personally, it can be damaging for young people hearing it if they\u2019re paying attention to it.\u201d <\/p>\n
\u201cI can\u2019t help the fact that I haven\u2019t been to space. I didn\u2019t nominate myself for Australian of the Year, but you know what?<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019m going to use the platform gratefully because it\u2019s an important one to showcase. <\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s easy to get caught up with the loud minority rather than focusing on getting the job done.\u201d <\/p>\n
The mum-of-two worked towards her goal of becoming an astronaut for years but she never expected to be nominated for the Australian of the Year award. <\/p>\n
\u201cBecoming Australian of the Year wasn\u2019t something that was ever on my radar,\u201d she told host Sarrah Le Marquand.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt was one of the school mums, I found out, that nominated me and it was such an honour.\u201d <\/p>\n
As Australia doesn\u2019t have its own human space flight program, it might be years until Bennell-Pegg gets the opportunity to go to space. <\/p>\n
\u201cMy focus right now is really here on the ground, making sure I remain as match-fit as I can should an opportunity arise,\u201d she explained on the podcast. <\/p>\n
\u201cIt would be a decision for Australia, should Australia choose to take that. Being an astronaut is a life of uncertainty, regardless of if a mission\u2019s planned for you right away or not. <\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s uncertainty in the selection process, in the training, if you\u2019ll pass, in when your missions or mission will be, what happens in space.\u201d <\/p>\n
Bennell-Pegg, who is married to fellow spacecraft systems engineer Campbell Pegg, says she\u2019s figured out how to block out the trolls. <\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019ve grown pretty thick skin,\u201d she said. \u201cPeople can call me what they want \u2013 I\u2019m busy being an astronaut, I won\u2019t be calling them back. <\/p>\n
\u201cYou have to learn to put your shield up when you\u2019re in a public position so that you don\u2019t absorb too much of the good, as well as too much of the bad, because otherwise you can be prone to narcissism or leave yourself vulnerable. <\/p>\n
\u201cYou have to find your own kind of steady centre. So I think that when women get to a position where they\u2019re visible, we have a duty to help show that it is possible to get there and that the journey is worth it.\u201d <\/p>\n