Pride of Australia 2014 finalists revealed ahead of awards ceremony

THE Daily Telegraph’s Pride of Australia winners are set to be ­announced at a ceremony in Sydney today as we honour the people who strive to make our country a better place.

AFTER being told by the people she helps that she is their ‘pride of Australia’, it’s clear Marnee May is a winner no matter what.

The Daily Telegraph’s Pride of Australia winners will be ­announced at a ceremony in Sydney today, and Ms May is as nervous as she is excited.

Marnee May is honoured to be a finalist in the 2014 awards. Picture: Richard Dobson

2014 FINALISTS

CARE AND COMPASSION

• Dr Mualla McManus
• Christine Lofts
• Finn Callanan

CHILD OF COURAGE

• Stuart Kelly
• Hugo Dumapit
• Mollyjane Boyson

COMMUNITY SPIRIT

• Linda and Cassidy Strickland
• Kelly Doyle
• Vivian Hayles

COURAGE

• Karen Crawley
• Jarrod Lawrence
• Andrew Rust

ENVIRONMENT

• Corinne Fisher
• Tom Anderson
• Graham Rand

FAIR GO

• Jasmina Bajraktarevic- Hayward
• Denise Azoulay
• Jenny Stanger
• Dr Jamal Rifi

INSPIRATION

• Deb Simonds
• David Pescud
• Marnee May

HEROISM

• Josef Pichler
• Darrin Parkin
• Tony Gutteridge, Phil Holdsworth, Andrew Sarson and John Bugelli

OUTSTANDING BRAVERY

• Tod Rowbotham
• Tommy Raymen
• Shayden Scharder, Lindsy Isaac, Kurt Gillan

YOUNG LEADER

• Melissa Tierney
• Claudia McEwen
• Kate Fitzsimons

The 24-year-old is one of three finalists for the prestigious Young Leader Medal for her work and dedication to the Life Changing Experiences Foundation’s SISTER2Sister program, which links at-risk teens with positive mentors.

Yesterday Ms May said she was a ball of nerves ahead of the big announcement, but was feeling better after the program’s teens made her a video filled with heartwarming messages of good luck.

“It made me burst into tears, they are just sweet girls,” she said. “I think it’s amazing to even be nominated. I have read some of the people I’m up against and I can’t believe I would even be considered next to them, they are amazing.’’

Ms May was proudly nominated by her boss and the program’s founder, Jessica Brown, who is a past Pride of Australia winner herself, taking home a medal in 2006.

“We are very excited for the ceremony and I will be wearing my Pride of Australia pin with pride,” Ms Brown said, tears welling in her eyes.

“This means the absolute world to me because I’ve known Marnee since she was 13 and she is wise beyond her years and the girls have the most amazing respect for her.

“When I watched the video they made her that says ‘Mar-nee we are so proud of you — you are our pride of Australia’ — it’s just amazing. She is such an inspirational young person and really is one in a million.”

Now in its 10th year, the winners of 10 categories ­including Child of Courage, Outstanding Bravery and Community Spirit, will be ­announced at a ceremony at Walsh Bay today.

Judges included NSW State of Origin coach Laurie Daley, news presenter Sandra Sully and fitness guru Michelle Bridges. The Daily Telegraph editor Paul Whittaker ­described the finalists as ‘‘hardworking, honest, caring and brave’’. “And most of all, they are unsung,” he said. “Our finalists do not seek accolades but we will honour them as they continue to remind us all that we have the capacity to stand up when it counts.”