BRYCE Courtenay has been named the ACT Australia Day Ambassador.

The top-selling novelist was born in South Africa and educated in Johannesburg and the UK, before arriving in Australia in 1958. He became an Australian citizen the following year.

Most of Courtenay’s stories were set in Australia or South Africa. His first novel “The Power of One” was published in 1989 and received world-wide acclaim, selling about seven million copies.

Courtenay was appointed a Member of the Order of Australia in 1995, in recognition of service to advertising and marketing to the community, and as an author.

In 2005, he was awarded an honorary degree of Doctor of Letters from the University of Newcastle and in 2010 his image appeared on a postage stamp as Australia Post’s Literary Legend.

[box] The Australia Day Ambassador Program remains one of the most successful national Australia Day programs, inspiring national pride and spirit right across the country and reaching into hundreds of communities large and small.

The Australia Day Ambassador Program enables high-achieving and distinguished Australians to take part in local Australia Day activities, helping to increase community spirit and inspire celebration. [/box]