Caring for her deathly ill son inspired the ACT's 2025 Australian of the Year.
Darcy and his sister Mia watched as his mum Megan Gilmour made an emotional speech while accepting the award.
The ACT's other award recipients were also announced at the ceremony.
Ms Gilmour co-founded MissingSchool to help children who, like her son Darcy, were too sick for traditional school.
Darcy had pre-leukaemia, and being treated for two years prevented him from attending school.
"When I walked out of Sydney Children's Hospital holding Darcy's hand ... I promised myself I wouldn't turn my back [on the] children who can't attend school for reasons beyond their control," Ms Gilmour said.
Ms Gilmore advocates for the 1.2 million Australian children at risk of missing school due to chronic medical and mental conditions.
Engaging children who cannot attend a physical classroom in education was more important now than ever as "we're now facing a global and national attendance crisis", she said.
"We're ready to help shape schools and our school systems to be 21st century operators."
In 2015, Ms Gilmour co-authored Australia's first national report on school isolation, initiating a Commonwealth report in 2016.
She also started the world's first telepresence robot service, reconnecting more than 7000 Australian classmates in real-time.
Ms Gilmour now champions "learn-from-anywhere" globally as a vital school policy for students unable to attend physically.
2025 Australian of the Year for the ACT
- WINNER: Megan Gilmour - Co-founder, MissingSchool (Hawker)
- NOMINEE: Jenny Edwards - Scientist and founder, Light House ArchiScience (Canberra)
- NOMINEE: Christina Ryan - Founder, Disability Leadership Institute
- NOMINEE: Philippa Seldon - Founder, The Healthy Tradie Project (Nanima)
Senior Australians of the Year for the ACT
Running supporters of the vision impaired Peter Ralston OAM and Marilyn Ralston are the 2025 Senior Australians of the Year for the ACT.
The pair have made it possible for people with vision impairment and other disabilities in the ACT to walk or run at mainstream events and enjoy the benefits of an active lifestyle.
Mr and Ms Ralston founded the Achilles Running Club Canberra 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.
2025 Senior Australian of the Year for the ACT
- WINNER: Peter Ralston and Marilyn Ralston - Running supporters of the vision impaired (Kaleen)
- NOMINEE: Armando Corvini - Rock climbing instructor and volunteer (Deakin)
- NOMINEE: Laurie Fisher - Super Rugby coach (Canberra)
- NOMINEE: Stuart Warner - Musician and community radio presenter (Queanbeyan)
Young Australian of the Year for the ACT
Neurodiversity advocate and artist Daniel Bartholomaeus is the 2025 Young Australian of the Year for the ACT.
Mr Bartholomaeus has autism and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, and has struggled with anxiety and depression. He struggled at school and university.
Mr Bartholomaeus is a now mentor with the With Friends Initiative, a social group for neurodivergent young people.
He has also worked with Daydream Machine, the National Gallery of Australia and the United Nations to help young people embrace their abilities.
His art helps bridge the divide between neurotypical and neurodiverse Australians.
2025 Young Australian of the Year for the ACT
- WINNER: Daniel Bartholomaeus - Artist and neurodiversity advocate (Canberra)
- NOMINEE: Jarrett Anthoney - Co-founder, Dainere's Rainbow (Gungahlin)
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NOMINEE: Brendan Swan - Founder, Concussion Australia
- NOMINEE: Hayley Whatman - Voice for youth (Canberra)
Local Heroes for the ACT
The 2025 Local Heroes for the ACT are Vanessa Brettell and Hannah Costello, co-founders of Cafe Stepping Stone.
The sustainable and vegetarian Dickson and Strathnairn cafes are a social enterprise, employing women mostly from migrant and refugee backgrounds and others who experience significant barriers to employment.
They offer culturally and linguistically diverse women employment pathways, on-the-job training and qualifications through partnerships with registered training organisations.
Hannah and Vanessa employ female sole-income earners, new arrivals to Australia and those with limited English or minimal employment history.
Cafe Stepping Stone employment helps facilitate the women's entry or return to the workplace.
It also runs events to create a welcoming hub for the community to grow, with a focus on social justice and connection.
Chief Minister Andrew Barr has called the Dickson cafe his local coffee joint.
It was designed by David Pennington from Collins Pennington Architects.
2025 Local Hero for the ACT
- WINNER: Vanessa Brettell and Hannah Costello - Co-owners, Cafe Stepping Stone (Canberra)
- NOMINEE: Dr Madhumita Iyengar - Founder, Initiatives For Women In Need (Amaroo)
- NOMINEE: Pamela Muston - Ultramarathon runner (Wamboin)
- NOMINEE: Delfina Shakespear - Gender-equality advocate in women's sport (Florey)
National Australia Day Council CEO Mark Fraser congratulated the recipients.
"The ACT award recipients share a commitment to ability and inclusion," said Mark.
