CANBERRA, ACT, Oct. 31 -- The Prime Minister of Australia issued the following media release:

What you see on this stage is the best of what being an Australian looks like.

It is people who tell our national story through action.

And they tell our national story through the compassion they have for Australians that they will probably never meet themselves.

And a lot has changed over the last five years.

But I've had the joy of being responsible for helping with the National Australia Day Council for five years, and something I learned really early on, which remains as true today as it was when I first learnt it.

That is, I will always be the least impressive person at these events.

But I figure, what I might not have in the ability to inspire others, we all have in us the ability to be inspired.

No matter who you are here tonight, we all get inspired by the actions of our fellow citizens.

Adam Desmond, tells us he never intended to do anything more than "give kids the opportunity to play sport."

And then he tells us, "now these kids become our leaders."

What an amazing transformation.

Tina Baldwin, says the people called her.

"They have called. There is still hope, and that is why I'm there."

And she's been there some 33,000 times.

What an incredible contribution.

Pheobe Ho, "a beacon of hope that recovery is possible."

That is how she described who she is and her mission.

And also reminding us to do things genuinely and authentically.

Do not just do the tick-box exercise.

Esther Oh - you read it on paper, 'the teleporting of health', and that sounds impressive.

But you see it and you hear it from her - and first she says "the meaning goes beyond nominees and finalists" and thanks "the selfless Australians making a difference".

And then she says that she "hopes to give a better future, not just to someone else, but not just to a group, but to generations to come."

Really seeing the impact can be well and truly beyond the here and now.

So we all get to sit in this room for an hour and a half and be inspired and recognise the incredible power within the people that we call our fellow Australians.

Thank you so much to every nominee and everyone who makes these awards possible.

Congratulations to tonight's nominees.

I look forward to joining you in Canberra in January next year.

Thank you very much.

Disclaimer: Curated by HT Syndication.