Australia Day Ambassadors

Uncle Barry Watson is a proud descendant of the Wergaia people of Western Victoria and has lived in Logan City since 1979. He is the Elder in Residence with Harris Fields State School and has worked in the Early Childhood field for many years. He has developed many early childhood resources and produced several children's books and games. Uncle Barry provides cultural awareness training to his fellow staff members, community partners and other workers across government and non-government organisations.

He is a respected Logan Community Elder and a member of many local action groups. Uncle Barry was formerly CEO of the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Community Health Service in Brisbane.

In 2015, Uncle Barry was awarded the NAIDOC Elder of the Year for South East Queensland and runner up for Queensland Australian of the Year Award in the Local Hero category. In 2019, he received a Queensland Day Award for his community work and in 2021, was a finalist for the Premier's Reconciliation Awards in the Education category for the Our Nangara Group initiative.

On 14 April 2024, Ross and his wife were informed by police that their son, Jaaden, had sustained critical head injuries following an e-bike accident in Byron Bay. After spending four days by his side in the Intensive Care Unit (ICU), he tragically passed away. In honour of Jaaden's memory, Ross and his family established the charity Beautiful Crazy, which provides essential items to families with loved ones in ICUs. To date, the charity has expanded its reach to 19 hospitals across the nation. In support of this cause, Ross recently undertook a cycling journey from Perth to Byron Bay, traversing entirely on gravel, to raise funds for the organisation.

After his son was diagnosed with cerebral palsy, Jay Larkins became passionate about Paralympic football. In 2006, he founded the Brisbane Paralympic Football Program, which now supports over 100 children with disabilities, giving them the chance to play team sports and stay active.

As Director, Jay leads a dedicated team of coaches, volunteers, and therapists, all working to help young athletes reach their full potential. His “never say never” attitude has inspired many participants, with some going on to represent Australia and others striving for the Australian Paralympic football team.

The program supports junior and senior players of all abilities, creating a welcoming and inclusive environment for athletes and their families. With the help of a committed team of volunteers, the program has grown into a supportive community. It is proudly endorsed as the All-Abilities Program by Football Queensland.

Peter launched Blood Bikes Australia several years ago, a volunteer brigade of motorcyclists that ferry urgent blood and medical supplies between hospitals for free. The money saved on transporting blood and supplies can then go to other healthcare services.

Peter first started making deliveries in Brisbane on his own, but it soon grew. Blood Bikes Australia now has 500 qualified volunteers across Australia. His team of riders have made more than 8,500 last-resort pick-ups and deliveries for more than 70 healthcare providers, covering more than 900,000kms. They've delivered life-saving blood, biopsies, COVID tests, stem cells, corneas for transplant and clinical trial tests, along with files and patients' personal items. Peter's long-term goal is for more hospitals to use Blood Bikes Australia, saving more lives and healthcare dollars.

Peter was also named a 2023 Queensland Local Hero nominee for the Australian of the Year Awards.

Alison Alexander is a Brisbane based food consultant and the inaugural Queensland Food Fellow. She was awarded the Medal of the Order of Australia in the 2020 Australia Day Awards. Alison has been a presenter on ABC Radio for 27 years and has written for numerous publications.

Alison has a long history in the Queensland and Australian food space and is renowned for her food knowledge, her celebration of Queensland producers and her unwavering support for food professionals.

She hails from rural Queensland and has travelled the length and breadth of the state profiling our agriculture and food industries and is as comfortable in a paddock with a beef producer or vegetable grower as she is rubbing shoulders with our top chefs.

She believes food must have a “quality” about it - ideal growing conditions, hygiene in production, sound cooking methods and above all, good flavour.

Alison is a keen gardener, loves to travel and is always looking for new ingredients. In her spare time, she can often be found in her kitchen making another batch of preserves.

Douglas Millican has been an integral part of Northern Queensland Legacy for the past ten years and, in his time as President, introduced new policies to move the club forward. During this period, he has mentored many legatees and has supported many beneficiaries ranging from 4 to 102 years of age.

Douglas is currently the Vice President of the Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) Association Townsville and works tirelessly in his community, volunteering countless hours to the cause. Douglas also attends the local defence force resettlement seminars providing advice on life in Townsville post separation from the Australian Defence Force.

Douglas was the Townsville City Council 2022 Australia Day Citizen of the Year.

Dominique Rizzo is an Australian chef, culinary educator, food tour leader, food stylist, and content creator with a career spanning more than two decades.

Based in Brisbane, she is the founder of Urban Feast Cooking School, a highly regarded space celebrating flavour-driven, seasonal, Mediterranean-inspired cuisine.

Arthur Seekee was born and raised on Thursday Island. Currently living on Horn Island, Arthur and his wife Vanessa operate Torres Strait Heritage Museum.

The couple were nominees in the Local Hero category in the 2026 Australian of the Year Awards for their decades of work investigating and documenting the role that Horn Island in the Torres Strait played in defending Australia during World War II.

Their research has highlighted the history of the volunteer Torres Strait Light Infantry Battalion, Australia's only Indigenous battalion. As a result of this work and associated lobbying efforts, hundreds of veterans and their families have received government recognition and support in honour of their service.

This work has also led to the preservation of many World War II historical sites on Horn Island, with memorials to the soldiers who served there now installed throughout the Torres Strait.

Kevin Hughes BM OAM is a veteran who served in the Australian Military within Australia and overseas. He spent several years in the Queensland Fire Service in Brisbane before continuing his professional flying career.

Kevin has received many honours and awards, the highest being a Bravery Medal (BM) awarded to him by the Queen of England and bestowed upon him by the Governor-General of Australia at the time, Sir Peter Cosgrove AK, CVO, MC in residence in Canberra. In 2024, he was awarded an Order of Australia by King Charles III of England, which was bestowed upon him by the Governor-General of Australia, Her Excellency the Honourable Sam Mostyn.

Kevin also founded Endangered Species Supporters Australia, an organisation that informs Australians all over the country about ways of improving the ecosystem within our sunburnt country, which in turn helps to protect our native animals.

John Lazarou is an Australian businessman and a Co-Founder of The Coffee Club, Australia's largest coffee shop group.

Beyond his business success, John is well known for his charity work and community contributions such as The Coffee Club Telethon Ball which has raised over $13 million for The Children's Hospital Foundation. He also supports the Special Children's Christmas Parties across Australia and is an ambassador for the Olivia Newton John Cancer and Wellness Centre. John is also an honorary member of the Brisbane Greeters Club.

Paula Pool grew up in Townsville in a family deeply committed to giving back to the community, instilling in her a passion for service from a young age. Inspired by this legacy, Paula co-founded Fuel for Schools, a transformative initiative designed to address food insecurity among school children and to encourage them to attend school.

The “Fuelling the Future” program now feeds nearly 7,000 school children every week, ensuring they have the nourishment needed to thrive. Beyond providing meals, Fuel for Schools also supplies essential educational resources, creating an environment where children can focus on learning without the distraction of hunger.

Paula's vision is not only to fill empty stomachs but also to empower young minds by giving them the tools they need to succeed. Her dedication to community welfare reflects the values she grew up with, and her work continues to impact countless families across the region.

Through compassion, innovation, and a commitment to equality, Paula Pool has become a driving force for change, ensuring that every child has a fair chance at a brighter future.

Thomas Pirie, known as '10-cent Tom', has turned a simple idea into a powerful social enterprise. What began as collecting bottles and cans for pocket money has grown into 10-cent Tom—a community recycling program that now collects from over 200 local businesses and households. The proceeds fund employment for people living with disabilities, with more than 3.5 million containers recycled and six team members now employed.

Living with an intellectual impairment and overcoming major spinal surgery for scoliosis, Tom has shown extraordinary resilience. His drive, humour, and unwavering enthusiasm have made him a much-loved figure in his community. Through 10-cent Tom, he is not only reducing waste and promoting sustainability but also creating opportunities and dignity for people with disabilities. Tom's story is one of leadership, inclusion, and determination—an inspiring example of how one person's vision can spark lasting change.

For over fifty years, Peter Dornan AM has been a physiotherapist in the fields of sporting injuries and manipulative therapy, working with many international sporting teams, including the Queensland Rugby team, the Wallabies and the Kangaroos.

For his achievements in sport, he was awarded the Commemorative 2000 Australian Sports Medal. In 1997, he became Founder and Convenor of the Brisbane Prostate Cancer Support Network. In this regard, he successfully climbed Mt Kilimanjaro in Tanzania to collect material for his book Conquering Incontinence, released in 2003. In 1998, he was influential in founding the Prostate Cancer Foundation of Australia.

In 2002, Peter was appointed as a Member of the General Division of the Order of Australia (AM). Peter was also awarded 2022 Queensland Senior Australian of the Year.

Dr Dimity Dornan AO is a social entrepreneur, bionics advocate, speech pathologist, researcher, Founder and Director of Hear and Say, Co-Founder and Chair of Bionics Gamechangers Australia. She is a Fellow of Australian Academy of Technology and Engineering and of Speech Pathology Australia.

In 1992, she established Hear and Say for deaf children learning to listen and speak, particularly with surgically implantable hearing technology like the bionic ear.

As Co-Founder and Chair of the Board of Bionics Gamechangers Australia, she has been working to promote the bionics industry and help transform lives by bringing new bionics solutions to people with previously untreatable medical problems.

As Queenslander of the Year, Queensland Great, Queensland Australian of the Year and Senior Australian of the Year for Queensland, she has contributed much to her state and country.

Professor Peter Timms is a nationally and internationally renowned microbiologist and a global authority on chlamydial infection and disease in humans and animals. He is the world leader on chlamydial disease in koalas, a world expert on koala retrovirus (KoRV) and a pioneer in developing vaccines for koala Chlamydia and KoRV.

Based in Queensland, Peter is leading the race to develop vaccines to safeguard this Australian icon from extinction—championing the underpinning science, its trialling and translation, and giving further to Queensland by supervising PhD students, mentoring early career researchers and working with numerous local koala carer and rescue groups.

Peter has been recognised for his work over a number of honours and awards including Life Sciences Award (Rural & Regional) (2024), CEVA Wildlife Research Excellence Award (2023), 2022 Queensland Great Award, Named in Queensland's 50 Best and Brightest (2014), Australian Society for Microbiology Frank Fenner Research Prize (1998), and Fellow of the Australian Society for Microbiology (1991).

Martin Shaw is the President of Wounded Heroes and has worked seven days a week since 2011 to save the lives of veterans and their families experiencing crisis, homelessness and domestic violence.

Martin created the Veteran Centre located in Bundamba including an Op Shop/Cafe where he supports the 8,000 local veterans and the local community through free food programs in conjunction with Foodbank and Food Rescue. Since Martin commenced in 2011 it is estimated that he has saved the lives of 33,000 veterans through his 24/7 crisis line by providing immediate financial support and servicing the gap in government funded providers.

Justine Christerson is a compassionate individual who has made a significant impact on the lives of countless people across Queensland. After relocating to Brisbane from Biloela in 2012, she established a free, personalised support service for those who must travel to access essential medical care.

Justine's unwavering dedication to improving the Patient Travel Subsidy Scheme has led to substantial advancements in the system. By advocating for change based on the real-life experiences of those she supports, Justine has successfully reduced the number of individuals who are forced to forego necessary medical treatment due to financial constraints.

Beyond providing invaluable advice and support, Justine has gone above and beyond by offering practical assistance such as home-cooked meals, toiletry and care packs, and a free airport-to-hospital shuttle service, averaging five people daily. This tireless effort has ensured that individuals receive the care they need, without the added burden of logistical and financial stress.

Justine has received several awards and recognition over the years, including a Queensland Local Hero finalist for the Australian of the Year Awards in 2016.

Dr Bob McGregor became Ipswich's first paediatrician at age 27 after earning his qualifications. In his first year, he raised funds to provide Ipswich Hospital's small Special Care Babies nursery with vital modern equipment, followed by a long program to make the kids' ward more attractive. He later established the Ipswich Children's Ward Amenities Fund raising over $126,000 over 15 years.

Bob served on several boards, including the West Moreton Health, St Andrews Hospital and Ipswich Hospital Foundation, as well as Asthma Foundation Queensland. He is also Patron of the West Moreton branch of Epilepsy Queensland. In 2000, he founded the annual Ipswich100 charity ride, which has since raised over $1.6 million with 85% distributed to a number of charities, including the Ipswich Hospital Foundation.

Bob's contributions have earned him the Mervin Jones and Paul Harris Awards for community service, the 2014 Queensland Senior Australian of the Year title and an honorary Doctorate in Science from the University of Southern Queensland. He was also a Queen's Baton Holder in the 2018 Gold Coast Commonwealth Games.

Gail Ker OAM is a recognised thought leader in needs-based community planning, innovative business models, social cohesion, strategic partnerships, employment pathways, funding opportunities, and strategic direction. Informed and working at the cutting edge of policy and sector engagement, Gail's knowledge is actively sought by politicians, industry leaders and research bodies alike, both nationally and internationally.

From 2007 to 2014 she attended the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR's) annual consultations with non-governmental organisations in Geneva. Gail is currently the Head of Settlement and Community Capacity Building with The Social Policy Group. Prior to this, Gail was formerly the CEO of Access Community Services Ltd, where she led the development of social, cultural and economic experiences and opportunities that transformed the lives of individuals and communities. In 2010, Gail was awarded an Order of Australia Medal.

Karen Jacobsen is an international speaker, concert artist and prolific songwriter whose timeless, cinematic, piano-driven songs have been licensed to US network television. Her speaking voice is in a billion GPS and smartphone devices and was the original Australian voice of Siri. Karen is the author of two books and has had a professional speaking career earning her wide media coverage including a clue in The New York Times crossword puzzle.

Her musical career includes sharing the stage with Norah Jones, Neil Sedaka, Jon English, Christopher Cross, and Cyndi Lauper. She's performed the national anthem at major sporting events at Madison Square Garden, Fenway Park, Dodger Stadium, Giants Stadium (80,000 in the crowd), and Suncorp Stadium in Queensland for TriNations Rugby and State of Origin.

As a composer, Karen's AIR Award nominated pop-orchestral composition “Misogyny Opus” based on Julia Gillard's iconic speech, premiered in 2023 with the Queensland Symphony Orchestra. After 20 years in New York City, Karen co-founded the Whitsundays Songwriter Festival in North Queensland and is President of the Whitsundays Writers Festival.

Bill Nancarrow's journey as a sports ambassador began after a 1998 motorcycle accident that left him with permanent damage to his right leg. Refusing to accept limitations, he embraced weight training to rebuild his strength, launching a para-powerlifting career in 2002. Representing Australia at national and international levels, Bill transitioned from competing to mentoring, serving as team manager and assistant coach for events like the 2008 Beijing Paralympics and 2018 Gold Coast Commonwealth Games.

In 2022, Bill was honoured to coach the Pacific Islands Para Powerlifting Team for the Birmingham Commonwealth Games, a testament to his dedication to empowering athletes with disabilities.

Currently working as a simulation assistant in Clinical Skills Development Services at the Royal Brisbane and Women's Hospital, Bill supports the delivery of clinical education by creating realistic, high-fidelity training environments that fully immerse healthcare professionals and contribute to improved patient safety outcomes.

Ross Blanch has helped many farmers through tough times in his role as the inaugural telephone counsellor on the Farmer to Lifeline Farmer support line.

Ross is a dairy farmer at Lower Mount Walker, west of Brisbane, but he has also volunteered for 27 years with the Ipswich Lifeline Crisis Support Centre.

Out of this grew the Farmer to Lifeline Farmer service, which allows farmers to speak to another farmer when they want to talk to someone or need mental health support. Being a farmer himself, Ross understands many of the issues farmers face and can connect with them by speaking the farmer language.

In addition to telephone support, Ross also visits farmers and attends rural events to spread the word. Such is the demand for Ross's time that more farmers have been added to the service.

Ross's empathy, patience and understanding is bringing hope to those on the land when they need it the most.

In 2012, Peter and Melissa McGuinness's son, Jordan, was speeding and under the influence of alcohol and cannabis when his car collided with a stationary vehicle containing five other young people. Four of those teens died on impact as did Jordan himself.

Since 2017 Peter and Melissa have been engaging with young people around Australia, facilitating a social movement for change and driving culture and harm prevention with highly relatable messages about love, family and the empowerment of choice.

Students are uplifted and equipped with authentic accountability to protect their families and their communities from preventable regret, harm and trauma. The YOU CHOOSE Program is advocated as uniquely effective by police, educators, students and parents throughout Australia; as well as organisations such as the Australian Road Safety Foundation, Australian Secondary Principals Association and Youth Leadership Academy Australia.

The Griffith University School of Criminology and Criminal Justice has completed an independent study into YOU CHOOSE, which has empirically proven that the program produces self-regulating cohesion which reduces harmful passivity and impulsivity in social groups and settings.

Emeritus Professor Roland (Roly) Sussex OAM has a PhD in Russian and general linguistics from the University of London and was a Professor of Russian at the University of Melbourne from 1974 to 1989, and a Professor of Applied Language Studies at the University of Queensland from 1989 to 2010.

Roly has ongoing research projects in language, society and culture, intercultural communication, communication and pain, Australian English, and language communication in digital media and online learning. He has been broadcasting weekly in a segment with ABC Radio since 1997.

Roly has written several books which include his most recent book published in 2020, Word for Today. He is an OAM, a Fellow of the Queensland Academy and a Chevalier des Palmes Académiques.

Hani Watson PLY is a powerhouse in the sport of powerlifting.

The Queenslander broke Australia's 16-year medal drought in the sport, when she won bronze in the women's heavyweight in Birmingham with a best lift of 127kg - nearly 30kg more than her body weight.

Hani was born with bilateral metaphyseal dysplasia, which bowed her tibia and femur bones. She was encouraged by her father to give the sport a go, teaching her she could do anything with upper body strength. It's that lesson that Hani uses as her 'superpower'.

At the recent Paris Paralympic Games, Hani finished 6th strongest in the world. Hani hopes to continue building a legacy through Paralympic Powerlifting for years to come.

Carmel Crouch founded STEPS more than 30 years ago as a small organisation trying to provide young people with a disability with opportunities for workplace participation and independence. Since then, STEPS has grown into a large organisation which helps many individuals all over Australia strive for a brighter future.

As Managing Director, Carmel facilitates STEPS Group of Companies strategic planning and major decision-making processes. Her in-depth knowledge of not-for-profit corporate governance, coupled with service delivery expertise and determination of social equality, has been instrumental in the ongoing growth and success of the organisation.

Emeritus Professor Ken Donald AO has had a long career in medicine and medical education. As an academic he has published extensively in peer reviewed journals and textbooks. He has held numerous senior positions including Head of the School of Medicine at The University of Queensland, Director of Pathology at the Royal Brisbane and Women's Hospital, Deputy Director-General of Queensland Health, General Manager at John Hunter Hospital, and Director of Medical Services at the Royal Darwin Hospital.

Ken's loyalty and commitment to the health of Queenslanders is unrivalled. He was honoured as a Queensland Great in 2012 and was awarded an Officer of the Order of Australia for his contributions to medicine, education and veterans' health.

Hannah Johnston, a 21-year-old medical scientist, has made remarkable contributions to her community and the agricultural sector. She successfully raised an impressive $75,000 for the Gympie District Show and spearheaded the introduction of the event's first-ever Agricultural Education Hub exhibit.

As part of her efforts, Hannah engaged show visitors with hands-on activities and conducted live presentations using dairy cattle blood to demonstrate how red and white blood cells are utilised in diagnosing and monitoring cattle health. She also coordinated scientists from the University of the Sunshine Coast to showcase innovative demonstrations on how red seaweed products can help reduce methane emissions in cattle, promoting sustainable agricultural practices.

Beyond her work with the Gympie Show, Hannah is a dedicated community volunteer, consistently giving her time and expertise to support local initiatives and make a positive impact.

Susie Maroney is an Australian former marathon swimmer who was born with cerebral palsy, a condition she kept private until 2007. She first gained recognition at age 14 in 1989, placing third in the Australian Marathon Swimming Championship. In 1990, she became the youngest and fastest Australian to swim the English Channel.

Susie won the Manhattan Island Marathon Swim twice (1990 and 1994) and the 26.4 km International Self-Transcendence Marathon Swim in 1994. At 17, she set a record for the fastest female two-way English Channel swim in 1991. At 22, she swam 197 km from Mexico to Cuba, setting a record for the longest open-sea swim without flippers at the time. She also held the Guinness World Record for the longest distance swum in 24 hours (93.6 km) until 1997.

Susie completed her farewell swim in 2003, swimming from the Sydney Opera House to Manly Wharf. She was awarded an Order of Australia, an Outstanding Achievement Award from the NSW Government, and was inducted into the International Marathon Swimming Hall of Fame in 2005.

Dylan Conway's journey began with his service in the Australian Defence Force, where he served for 12 years. Then, at 26, Dylan was diagnosed with pilonidal sinus disease. He spent nearly two years in and out of hospital, largely bedridden. He found solace and strength in books - and decided to share those benefits with the world.

Dylan founded Brothers and Books, a bibliotherapy charity that sets up community libraries nationwide. To date, there are 102 libraries in workplaces that often face mental health challenges like army bases, hospitals, police stations, homeless shelters and domestic violence centres. The libraries are a resource for people dealing with stress, trauma and workplace pressures.

Since the founding of his charity, which he funds through his personal efforts and community support, Dylan has donated over $150,000 to other charities and donated over 18,000 life changing books. It's led to more people utilising bibliotherapy to deal with life's challenges.

Gerald 'Gerry' Garard is helping Australian military and first responder personnel recover from post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and related mental health issues. It's the latest project in a lifelong dedication to community service.

Gerry is the co-founder of the 4 Aussie Heroes Foundation which supports anybody from the military, police, fire and emergency services and correctional services, past or present, who may be experiencing the debilitating effects of PTSD. The foundation hosts 11-day Triumph over Trauma residential courses for participants and their families, delivering guided support programs to help with recovery.

Gerry was instrumental in raising more than $7 million to build a permanent rural retreat called Camp Courage, which will host future Triumph over Trauma courses. He also project-managed the building of the facility.

Gerry's commitment and drive - even into his eighties - is undiminished, continuing to devote all his time and energy to helping others.

Gerrard Gosens OAM is a vision-impaired adventurer, three-time Paralympian, project manager, chocolatier, small business owner, sports coach, and motivational speaker. He recently represented Australia in the Para-triathlon at the 2022 Commonwealth Games in Birmingham and has represented Australia at the 1996 Atlanta Paralympic Games in the team sport of Goalball.

Gerrard returned to his former sporting love, distance running, and represented Australia at the Sydney 2000 Paralympic Games in the 5000 metres, 10,000 metres and marathon (42.2km). He has also represented Australia at the 2012 Marathon World Cup, 2008 Beijing Paralympic Games and six Athletics World Championships.

Gerrard was honoured with an Order of Australia Medal in 2012 for his outstanding service to sport and people with disability. Gerrard is the owner of Chocolate Moments, creating hand-made chocolates while running two retail chocolate stores in Brisbane and conducting chocolate cooking experiences.

Nerelie Teese has been an educator for more than 30 years and is a qualified Laughter Yoga Group Leader in Beaudesert through the Scenic Rim Regional Council's, Be Healthy and Active Program.

She co-founded the international literacy project, Books Through the Seas and was instrumental in sourcing thousands of books for school and community libraries in the Philippines. An award-winning Bush Poet, Nerelie has presented her poetry across Australia as well as in Canada and America and in aged care and retirement homes. She was also a travelling performer on The Ghan and appeared on The Great Australian Doorstep TV program.

Mark Forbes and Gayle Forbes have dedicated their lives to helping families and individuals impacted by eating disorders. They are the founders of endED, a not-for-profit organisation that provides grassroots support, education and advocacy for people in eating disorder recovery.

A major initiative of endED is the pioneering Wandi Nerida residential recovery centre for eating disorders. Mark and Gayle worked tirelessly to enlist the support of local businesses and community organisations on the Sunshine Coast to fund and build this purpose-designed facility. Here, people recovering from eating disorders can find support, education and treatment in a caring environment.

Mark and Gayle have used their lived experience of eating disorders in their family as the impetus to address this critical illness, determined to create positive change for people in recovery. Their fundraising, counselling and education activities have had a direct impact on the lives of many people in South East Queensland and around Australia.

After losing his best friend and brother, Dean, to suicide and four of his clients, Dr Leon Stensholm knew there was a desperate need for change in the way we go about mentoring, supporting and helping youths through their most challenging, vulnerable years.

Leon has been counselling and mentoring our youth for well over a decade, most of which was free. In July 2023, Leon opened Lookout 07, a safe and accessible haven for young people aged 12-25 helping to transcend isolation by fostering connection and supporting physical, mental and social wellbeing.

Leon is on the ground in the centre each day working as a volunteer in his own organisation, mentoring and providing an empathetic ear to anyone who needs it. Leon is driven by his sense of purpose in ensuring that no young person feels alone with their struggles and receives the best nurturing and unconditional love and support.

Leon's dedication was recognised with the Sunshine Coast Biosphere Community Awards, winning Citizen of the Year Award in 2024. He was also recognised as a finalist for the 2025 Queensland Australian of the Year Awards.

Professor James Dale AC is an agricultural biotechnologist focused on developing the next generation of banana cultivars for the Australian and global banana industries and for resource poor farmers in developing countries.

He leads the Banana Biotechnology Program at Queensland University of Technology, achieving significant breakthroughts such as disease resistant bananas and bananas with enhanced levels of micronutrients. In collaboration with Ugandan colleagues and the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, the program developed “Golden Bananas”. These are cooking bananas with elevated pro-vitamin A levels to combat vitamin A deficiency in Uganda and surrounding countries.

The program has also developed Cavendish bananas with resistance to Fusarium wilt tropical race 4 (TR4), a disease which threatens the continued production of Cavendish worldwide. QCAV-4 is the world's first genetically modified banana approved for cultivation and consumption in Australia.

James was named 2019 Queensland Senior Australian of the Year, recognised as a Queensland Great and awarded the Companion of the Order of Australia (AC) for his contributions to agricultural science.

In 1987, Matt Levy OAM was born prematurely at 25 weeks. He has cerebral palsy, is legally blind and has had 40-50 operations on his heart, lungs, ears, and even brain.

Matt is also a swimmer and has competed at five consecutive Paralympic Games, winning three gold, one silver and five bronze medals. He's also swam at five World Swimming Championships, winning 20 international medals and holding four World Records.