Back in late January, the Shaker sat down with the ACT Australian of the Year, David Morrison to talk about the other strong candidates for the honour, and the former army leader thought there was no chance of taking out the award.

How wrong he was.

Today, the nominees across all four categories in the ACT Australian of the Year awards have been announced, and the field is as strong as ever.

Community leaders, health and disability advocates, humanitarians and environmental champions are among the finalists in 2017’s competition.

 

 

The 2017 ACT Award finalists are:

 

2017 ACT AUSTRALIAN OF THE YEAR

Katrina Fanning – Community leader (Farrer)

Jessica May – Disability advocate (North Lyneham)

Ricky Stuart – Advocate for children with autism (Yarralumla)

Alan Tongue – Youth mentor and educator (Canberra)

 

2017 ACT SENIOR AUSTRALIAN OF THE YEAR

Judith McLeod – Community volunteer (Weetangera)

Wendy Rainbird – Environmental champion (Canberra)

Terry Snow AM – Philanthropist (Deakin)

Dick Telford – Sports Scientist (Forrest)

 

 

2017 ACT YOUNG AUSTRALIAN OF THE YEAR

Alpha Cheng – Humanitarian (Barton)

Heidi Prowse – Cystic Fibrosis champion (Hackett)

Rachael Stevens – Mental health advocate (Holder)

Caterina Sullivan – Sustainable development activist (O’Connor)

 

2017 ACT LOCAL HERO

David Boddy – Community champion (Chapman)

Stasia Dabrowski OAM – Soup kitchen volunteer (Canberra)

Tash Maguire – Childhood cancer crusader (Marchment)

Marg Peachey – Wildlife warrior (Kambah)

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The local awards will be announced on Monday 31 October 2016 at the National Gallery of Australia in Canberra. Winners will then join recipients from all other States and Territories as finalists for the national awards, which will be held in Canberra on 25 January 2017.

For more information on the Australian of the Year Awards visit australianoftheyear.org.au