Mr Burton suffered life threatening burns in the 2002 bombings and said he was inspired to give back to the people who gave their time, skills and generosity in supporting him and others less fortunate.
A former footballer with Sturt in the SANFL, he said he knew burn injuries were devastating, both emotionally and physically, so he decided to establish the Julian Burton Burns Trust in 2003.
The trust was Australia’s first national community organisation solely committed to the prevention, care and research of burn injuries.
Other winners in the South Australian of the Year awards were teenage actor Danielle Catanzariti, who was named Young South Australian of the Year; cook and author Maggie Beer, who was named the Senior South Australian of the Year, and volunteer fire fighter Mike Coddington, who won the Local Hero award.
All the South Australian winners will represent SA in the Australian of the Year awards in Canberra in January.
