MEDIA RELEASE
THURSDAY 14 NOVEMBER 2024
2025 AUSTRALIANS OF THE YEAR FOR THE AUSTRALIAN CAPITAL TERRITORY ANNOUNCED
2025 Australian of the Year for the ACT - Megan Gilmour (Hawker)
2025 Senior Australians of the Year for the ACT - Peter Ralston OAM and Marilyn Ralston (Kaleen)
2025 Young Australian of the Year for the ACT - Daniel Bartholomaeus (Canberra)
2025 Local Heroes for the ACT - Vanessa Brettell and Hannah Costello (Canberra)
Awards event livestreamed via australianoftheyear.org.au
The 2025 Australian of the Year Awards recipients for the ACT have been announced at a ceremony in Canberra this evening.
The ACT recipients will join those from the other states and territories for the national awards to be announced on 25 January 2025 in Canberra.
The 2025 Australian of the Year for the ACT is Megan Gilmour, co-founder of MissingSchool.
When her son survived a traumatic illness, Megan Gilmour vowed to support the 1.2 million Australian children at risk of missing school due to chronic medical and mental conditions.
Leveraging her lived experience and work across 24 countries, Megan co-founded MissingSchool to keep these students connected to school, learning alongside their peers, from hospital or home.
In 2015, she co-authored Australia’s first national report on school isolation, initiating a Commonwealth report in 2016. Her 2017 Churchill Fellowship across six countries started the world’s first telepresence robot service, reconnecting over 7,000 Australian classmates in real-time.
A Deakin University Honorary Fellow and Alumnus of the Year, Megan’s 2021 policy proposal for improved data and systematic support was accepted by the Commonwealth.
Megan, 55, drives a campaign to sustain school connection for children’s wellbeing, reaching 14.1 million Australians in 2024. She now champions "learn-from-anywhere" globally as vital school policy for students unable to attend physically.
Running supporters of the vision impaired, Peter Ralston OAM and Marilyn Ralston, are the 2025 Senior Australians of the Year for the ACT.
Peter Ralston OAM (75) and his wife Marilyn Ralston (74) have made it possible for people with vision impairment or other disabilities in the ACT to walk or run at mainstream events and enjoy the benefits of an active lifestyle.
Peter is founder and president of Achilles Running Club Canberra, which he and Marilyn began in 2013. Volunteer guides team up with people with disability at fun runs, club training and the weekly parkrun.
In the past three years, Peter has guided blind athletes 120 times at parkrun, and Achilles Canberra has enabled several blind members to each achieve hundreds of parkruns. Peter and Marilyn also serve the community, Peter as a member of Lions Club of Canberra Belconnen and Marilyn at St John’s Care, Reid.
In recognition of his service to sport for people who are blind or have low vision, Peter was awarded the Medal of the Order of Australia in 2020.
The 2025 Young Australian of the Year for the ACT is artist and neurodiversity advocate Daniel Bartholomaeus.
Daniel Bartholomaeus is a 21-year-old artist with an innate ability to inspire and motivate others, especially within the neurodiverse community.
Daniel, who has autism and ADHD, hasn’t had an easy time. He’s had anxiety since he was young and school was challenging, contributing to him developing depression. In 2022, even though his portfolio had just won him a place at university, his mental health was at its lowest point.
Today, Daniel is a mentor with The With Friends Initiative, a social group for neurodivergent young people, and has worked with Daydream Machine, the National Gallery of Australia and the United Nations to help young people realise that it’s not about what you can’t do, but what you can do.
Daniel uses his art for self-expression, but also to forge common pathways for people with mental ill-health and those of different abilities, bridging the gap between neurotypical and neurodiverse people.
The 2025 Local Heroes for the ACT are Vanessa Brettell and Hannah Costello, co-founders of Cafe Stepping Stone.
Vanessa Brettell (31) and Hannah Costello (32) are harnessing the power of hospitality to lift and empower those most vulnerable in their community.
Their business, Cafe Stepping Stone, operates as a social enterprise, employing women mostly from migrant and refugee backgrounds and others who experience significant barriers to employment. The sustainable vegetarian café has two locations which offer culturally and linguistically diverse women employment pathways, on-the-job training and qualifications through partnerships with registered training organisations.
Hannah and Vanessa’s inclusive employment practices involve targeting female workers who are the sole income earners in their household, new arrivals to Australia, those with limited English or minimal employment history, and those experiencing homelessness. The employees are supported to gain skills and experience, facilitating their entry or return to the workforce.
Hannah and Vanessa also run a range of events through Stepping Stone, creating a welcoming hub for community to grow, with a focus on social justice and connection.
National Australia Day Council CEO Mark Fraser AO CVO congratulated the recipients for the ACT.
“The ACT award recipients share a commitment to ability and inclusion,” said Mark.
“Megan is committed to keeping sick children involved in education and community; Peter and Marilyn ensure vision is not a barrier for those who love to run; Daniel uses his art to help other neurodivergent young people and break down misconceptions; while Hannah and Vanessa are providing pathways to confidence, community and employment for women finding a new home in Australia.”
For more information on the Australian of the Year Awards, visit australianoftheyear.org.au.
ENDS.
MEDIA CONTACT: Nicole Browne on 0414 673 762 / nicole@mediaopps.com.au
PHOTOS: From the awards announcement event can be downloaded as available after approx. 8:45pm Canberra time from this link (credit NADC/Salty Dingo): ACT Media Distribution photos - High res