Four inspiring ACT citizens are examples of our best

Detailed summary

They are proud Canberrans who look outwards to help those who need it.

In what sometimes seem like difficult times, it is very welcome to celebrate Canberrans who, without the slightest doubt, benefit our own community and often distant communities in other countries. They are good examples of the ACT at its best.

They are proud Canberrans who look outwards to help those who need it. We salute them. We are proud to have them in our midst.

As the citations put it: "From upholding justice and improving global food security to connecting isolated people and creating a support network of mothers, the recipients of the 2027 Australian of the Year Awards for the ACT are making a difference at home in Canberra and beyond."

The 2027 Australian of the Year for the ACT is human rights lawyer Martin Hodgson. He has represented more than 500 clients in 30 countries through his work with The Disappeared Project and the Foreign Prisoner Support Service.

He has supported vulnerable, threatened people, both in Australia and abroad, including the Bali Nine and journalist Peter Greste after his arrest by the authorities in Egypt and the subsequent trial and imprisonment.

He is known for his persistence in the pursuit of justice for very vulnerable people often in the hands of violent regimes.

That persistence was exemplified by his successful advocacy for First Nations man, Kevin Henry, who was wrongfully imprisoned in Queensland for more than 25 years.

The words often used about him are: integrity, resilience and compassion.

He works across the world, often in very difficult situations. He makes the rest of us in the ACT proud to have him in our midst.

Opening of the article, excerpted from The Canberra Times. To read the rest, open the article on the publisher's site.