Here are the ACT finalists. I don’t want to nitpick, but what on Earth is Betty Churcher doing on the list, if she’s a New South Wales resident? And what has she done for the ACT in recent years? I know she’s going blind and it’s good to be kind, but … can anyone enlighten us as to her contribution to the ACT from across the border? If it were “ACT and Region” there would be many contenders who live in regional NSW but contribute to the ACT. Glass artist Klaus Moje comes to mind (lives on the south coast).
ACT AUSTRALIAN OF THE YEAR
Professor Andrew Blakers – Solar energy scientist (Aranda)
Adjunct Professor Michael Gore AM – Science educator
Janne Graham AM – Health care advocate (Evatt)
Air Chief Marshal Angus Houston AC AFC (Retired) – Military leader
ACT SENIOR AUSTRALIAN OF THE YEAR
Betty Churcher AO – Arts icon (Womboin)
Ante Dabro – Sculptor and teacher (Turner)
Professor Peter Drysdale AM – Asia academic (Aranda)
George Howe OAM – Carillonist (Hughes)
ACT YOUNG AUSTRALIAN OF THE YEAR
Patrick Mills – Olympic basketballer (Monash)
Dr Sam Prince – Doctor and entrepreneur
Jillian Thomsen – Community activist (Acton)
Rebekah White – Research psychologist (Chapman)
ACT LOCAL HERO
Elizabeth Dawson – Community champion (Hughes)
Marianne Dickie – Human rights advocate (Scullin)
Michael Pilbrow – Community activist (Charnwood)
Julie Tongs – Health care leader (Narrabundah)