The Australian of the Year Awards are underway, with the co-founders of social enterprise Cafe Stepping Stone jointly named Local Heroes for 2025, a chemistry researcher named Young Australian of the Year and the co-founder of Wheelchairs for Kids as Senior Australian of the Year.
A former Essendon captain who was diagnosed with motor neurone disease has been named Australian of the Year for 2025.
After receiving a prolonged standing ovation, Mr Daniher accepted his award as Australian of the Year with the help of his wife, Jan. "But it did something else, too. It lit a fire within me. A determination to fight for those who are currently affected, and those who will face it after me. Since Brother Thomas Oliver Pickett co-founded Wheelchairs For Kids nearly three decades ago the not-for-profit has gifted more than 60,000 custom-built wheelchairs to children in over 80 countries.
"This is why our project has become a large Australian charity, everyone who makes the wheelchairs is a volunteer."If you would like to see the other incredible stories of our fellow Australians who were up for nominations in the respective categories then you can read below.He hopes to continue his work and continue to fight for a cure for motor neurone disease working with all Australians.
Aiming to change the consumer goods sector by using green chemistry, Dr Wruck's method of converting mining by-products to zeolite LTA — which can remove contaminants from water that cause hardness — will be commercialised. Canberrans Vanessa Brettell, 31, and Hannah Costello, 32, created Cafe Stepping Stone, a sustainable vegetarian cafe with two locations where workers also receive on-the-job training and qualifications through registered training organisations.
Canberra Australian Of The Year 2025 Aoty Local Hero Nominee NSW NT QLD SA TAS VIC WA Senior Young
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