A women's rugby league pioneer, a campaigner for young men, an advocate for pregnant woman and newborns and a social research pioneer are the nominees for the 2020 ACT Australian of the Year.
Wiradjuri woman Katrina Fanning is nominated for her work promoting women's rugby league, and her contribution to the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander community in Canberra.
"It's quite a humbling thing," Ms Fanning said of the nomination.
"You sort of think, I'm not out there saving lives or discovering life-saving medicines. But it's nice to think what you do helps other people, and makes a difference in other people's lives."
"You don't often stop to think about that, but this gave me the opportunity to think maybe it has helped."
Menslink chief executive Martin Fisk is nominated for his work as a campaigner for young men. Mr Fisk experienced anxiety and depression from a young age. He helps other young men going through tough times.
"It is an amazing honour [to be nominated]," Mr Fisk said.
"Just to be named with these people is incredible."
Mr Fisk said when he found out about the nomination, he wrote to the person that gave him the job nine years ago.
"I thanked them for having faith in me, an outsider, to take the job. I'd never worked in the community sector but there was something about this job and it really resonated with me."
Hugh Mackay has helped Australians understand who we are, what we think and why we act the way we do.
His nomination said Mr Mackay is "a believer in the intrinsic goodness of humanity", and he's a founding member of the St James Ethics Centre and a patron of the Asylum Seekers' Centre.
Mary Kirk was director of nursing and midwifery, and executive officer, of the Queen Elizabeth II Family Centre from 1997 to 2019. She is an advocate for women, children and midwifery, and promotes the importance of evidence-based care throughout pregnancy and childbirth.
In the ACT Senior Australian of the Year category, 66-year-old Nils Lantzke is recognised for his work as a provider of animal therapy.
Mr Lantzke began the year with a tragedy, after a dog attacked his two therapy alpacas, resulting in the death of one, named Mimosa, and the second, Hercules, had to retire from the work. Since then, he has introduced two new alpacas to the work.
"It's a huge honour. It's heartwarming," Mr Lantzke said.
"I appreciate the fact that someone has thought enough of my work to nominate me in the first place."
"I've just always done the therapy work because I know that the alpacas bring smiles to people. That's all I've ever wanted to do, is create a bit of happiness."
The award recipients from the ACT will be announced on Monday, October 28.
2020 ACT Australian of the Year nominees
Katrina Fanning - women's rugby league pioneer
Martin Fisk - Campaigner for young men
Mary Kirk - Advocate for pregnant women and newborns
Hugh Mackay - Social research pioneer and psychologist
ACT Senior Australian of the Year nominees
Nils Lantzke - animal therapy provider
Dr Anne Martin - Aboriginal education mentor
Sue Salthouse - Disability advocate
Samson Wong - Advocate for migrants and multiculturalism
ACT Young Australian of the Year nominees
Madeline Diamond - Sustainability advocate
Morgan Marshall - Science, technology, engineering, maths (STEM) ambassador
Emily Patterson - Advocate for drought-stricken farmers
Tilleah Roselli - Advocate for youth living in care
ACT Local Hero nominees
Hannah Andrevski - Founder of Roundabout Canberra
Chris Endrey - Musician and arts advocate
Mandy Larsson - Lifeline leader
Julia Rollings - Foster carer
