Like the hardy Northern Territory town of Katherine, every community in regional Australia has its can-do champions. It's time to celebrate them, say three humble heroes from the remote outback town.
There is a certain kind of Australian most of us know.
They are not chasing headlines. They are rarely the loudest person in the room, and they almost never seek recognition.
They coach the junior football team after work, spend their free time helping others as part of a dedicated team of SES volunteers, check on elderly neighbours, organise fundraisers, mentor young people or quietly answer the phone at 2am because someone needs help.
They simply do what needs to be done.
For Ron Green, those people are the real heart of Australia.
And the father of four from Katherine in the Northern Territory just so happens to be one of them.
Australia's Local Hero for the NT in the 2026 Australian of the Year Awards, Mr Green says his earliest inspiration came from watching his parents answer every call for help.
NOMINATE NOW FOR THE 2027 AUSTRALIAN OF THE YEAR AWARDS
Growing up in a small farming community in far north Queensland, he saw his father volunteering with the SES and his mother supporting the Royal Flying Doctor Service.
When a serious crash nearly took a woman's life, the entire community came together to save her.
"Everyone had a role," Mr Green said. "As a pre-teen, being allowed to be part of that experience left a lasting impression on me. It showed me the power of ordinary people working together and made me want to help in practical ways."
Now a resident of the 12,000-strong community of Katherine, three hours drive south of Darwin, Mr Green said every task he has taken on since those formative experiences has come about because he saw a need and decided to step up.
When the local fire brigade was short of firefighters, he joined to help strengthen the team. When his eldest son wanted to join St John's Ambulance cadets, Mr Green volunteered so they could spend time together.
Looking back, the school teacher said he "simply tried to respond whenever there's been a genuine need".
None of it was about building a resume. It was about making sure someone stepped forward.
"If something is important to the community, and I have the ability to help, then I should do my part," he said.
"Over the years, those individual decisions to help have gradually become a way of life rather than something I consciously planned. That's how community service often works. You don't set out to build a lifetime of volunteering. You just keep saying 'yes' when your community needs you."
For Mr Green, the greatest reward has never been medals or awards.
It has been seeing his own children develop the same "heart for serving others".
"Watching them step forward to help people in need, not because they have to but because they genuinely want to, has been incredibly rewarding. Even more encouraging is seeing that this isn't just a phase - they've developed a desire to continue serving their communities into the future.
"As a parent, there's no greater legacy than seeing your children embrace the values you hoped to pass on."
Mr Green has also seen volunteering create a "ripple effect", with friends and family joining volunteer organisations.
"Every new volunteer goes on to make a difference in the lives of countless other people," he said. "Knowing that my example may have encouraged others to get involved is something I find incredibly humbling and deeply rewarding."
The nomination for the 2026 Australian of the Year Local Hero award came as a complete surprise to the humble 51-year-old.
"I was genuinely astounded," he said. "In a world where visibility is often measured by social media or public profile, it's easy for quiet service to be overlooked.
"(But) someone cared enough to put my name forward, not because I was famous or running a business, but because they believed the work I was doing was making a positive difference in our community.
"That experience has reinforced something I deeply believe: even when it feels like nobody notices, your contribution matters. There are people who see the difference you're making."
Fellow Katherine resident Jenny Duggan shares Mr Green's sentiment.
For decades, the mother of five has spent her mornings collecting litter along the banks of the Katherine River. The "River Lady", as she was affectionately named by local Indigenous campers, never expected anyone to notice.
And she certainly never expected that quiet act of service would one day see her named the Northern Territory's Senior Australian of the Year.
"My inspiration came from my grandparents and parents," Mrs Duggan said. "I learnt from their dedication to faith, family and their commitment to both throughout my life."
Recognition, however, was the furthest thing from her mind, and "not in a blue fit" did she think her name was going to be called when the 2026 recipients of the NT's Australian of the Year Awards were announced.
"I didn't think I'd done anything out of the ordinary," she said.
"I just love looking after our Katherine River and God's environment. I never thought of myself as a leader, but it's a wonderful feeling when you can motivate others and achieve something together."
Mrs Duggan said she believes Australia is filled with people just like her: quiet achievers working behind the scenes without expecting recognition, strengthening their communities every day - and those are the people who should be nominated for the Australian of the Year Awards.
"Just do it - nominate someone, so others know what being a true Australian really means," she said. "Keep up the Aussie spirit. There's always someone special doing something to better our world."
For Dr Felix Ho, a former Katherine local, being named the territory's Australian of the Year for 2026 was a "deeply humbling experience" and "an incredible honour".
"I'm just an ordinary Northern Territorian - an immigrant who has proudly made Australia home," the 31-year-old has said.
"My community welcomed my family, made us feel included and gave us opportunities. In return, I feel privileged to contribute back, whether by building resilience through youth development or saving lives through the knowledge of first aid."
Dr Ho, who moved to Katherine in 2014 as a third-year medical student, said his time in the remote town played a big role in his life journey.
"Community, to me, is more than just the place where we live or work," he said. "It is about people, belonging and sharing both the joyful and challenging moments of life - moments that become lasting memories and create bonds we carry with us. Katherine was one such community for me."
Dr Ho said the award recognising his decades of dedication to improving community health had given him a new platform to encourage others in Katherine and beyond to "have the courage to step forward when others step back".
"Each of us has the power to help shape our community for the better," he said.
"By choosing to be part of the solution, even the smallest positive actions can create meaningful change and help build a stronger, more connected community. Every act of kindness and contribution, big or small, helps build a better, more connected community for today and the future."
Mr Green shares Dr Ho's belief and he's encouraging everyone to nominate someone who inspires them for the 2027 Australian of the Year Awards.
Nominations are open until July 31.
"Australia is full of remarkable people whose stories deserve to be told," Mr Green said.
"One nomination from every Australian could have an impact across the nation. We'd build stronger, more connected communities where people know their efforts matter.
"When we take the time to recognise these people, we don't just honour an individual - we reinforce the values that make Australia strong: humility, generosity, service, and community. Those are the qualities we should be celebrating and encouraging in future generations.
"And if every Australian nominated just one deserving person, it would ... shine a light on people you have never heard of, and I believe everyone would be happier where they live and work knowing we have people that can change our lives in small ways."
For Mr Green, that is reason enough to nominate someone.
"I think we sometimes overlook (the) quiet achievers because they don't seek the spotlight," he said. "Yet they are often the very people whose contributions have the greatest and most lasting impact. They're not asking to be recognised - but that's exactly why we should recognise them.
The most important step was not writing the perfect nomination - "it's deciding someone deserves to be recognised".
"A nomination tells someone: 'I see you. I appreciate you. What you do matters'," he said.
Sometimes that encouragement keeps people volunteering. Sometimes it introduces an entire community to a cause they never knew existed. Sometimes it attracts volunteers, funding and support that multiplies the impact far beyond one individual.
One nomination can become a catalyst for countless acts of kindness.
Nominations for the 2027 awards are open until midnight July 31. Go to australianoftheyear.org.au and hit the "nominate now" button to submit your nomination.
