This week, Canberra was named the most livable city in the world by the OECD. A report released by the organisation ranked the nation's capital as the top scorer in a number of categories, including jobs, health, environment, education and access to services.

Predictably, the Canberra bashers came out in force as soon as the news broke. Making fun of Canberra has been a national sport for quite some time, with those from other states proclaiming us boring. Nothing could be further from the truth, and this vibrant, cultured city is coming into its own.

The OECD agrees too. Their report just confirmed what those who call this fair city home already knew – it's the best place to live in the entire world.

I have always adored my hometown. Even as a listless teenager, while my friends dreamt of escaping to Sydney and Melbourne, I cherished Canberra. As I grew older, I came to love this city more and more.

The first of my ancestors to settle in the Canberra region was my six-times great-grandmother Elizabeth Guise.

Born in 1762 in Kent, England, Elizabeth sailed to Australia in 1791. Her husband Richard had joined the NSW Army Corps and they originally settled in Sydney. When the NSW Army Corps was disbanded, Richard and Elizabeth ran a public house in Kent Street called the Jolly Sailor.

After Richard's death, Elizabeth moved with her son's family to the Canberra region in approximately 1822. The Guise family had landholdings near Gundaroo, and grazed their cattle on the shores of Lake George. Elizabeth died in 1853, and is buried in the oldest vault at St John's Cemetery in Reid.

My great-great-great-great grandparents, Gilbert and Mary McInnes, were also Canberra pioneers.

Working-class Scots born in the early 1800s, they took a chance and immigrated to Australia in 1839. They soon moved to the region and worked as servants for the Campbell family at Duntroon.

Being good Scottish Catholics they had 10 children, all of whom were born at Duntroon. The McInnes descendents continue to live in the Canberra and Queanbeyan region.

Another direct ancestor of mine was John Gale, who founded The Queanbeyan Age and, along with King O'Malley, was a great proponent of Canberra as the location of the nation's capital.

Gale was born in England, and apprenticed to the printing trade at a young age. In 1854, aged 23, he took the long journey to the colonies. Within a year he had established himself in Queanbeyan, and not long after married a fellow English expat.

In 1860, along with his brother, Gale printed the first newspaper of the region. Originally called The Golden Age, it was renamed The Queanbeyan Age a few years later.

When, in the early 1900s, the debate over the location of the capital city began, Gale advocated passionately for the site of Canberra. When Dalgety was being considered instead, Gale wrote a famous pamphlet titled Dalgety or Canberra, Which?

Parliamentarians later said Gale's pamphlet was what won over those undecided about Canberra. In 1908 Canberra was officially named the future site of the capital of Australia. Gale lived to 98 and is now credited as the Father of Canberra. His statue stands in Queanbeyan, near the courthouse.

Around the same time John Gale was establishing himself in Queanbeyan, another relative of mine settled in Bungendore.

William John McEnally was born in Armagh, Ireland in 1818. At only 14 years old, he moved halfway across the world with his family, who came south from Sydney to the Canberra region.

In 1853 McEnally – known as 'Mac' – married a local girl, Esther Guise (granddaughter of Elizabeth Guise). Two years later McEnally discovered gold in the area, at a place later named "Macs Reef". A short gold rush ensued in the area but by 1866, a mere 11 years later, the gold was all but gone. It was this short gold rush that inspired the original name of The Queanbeyan Age.

The last of my family to have established themselves early in the region were the Smiths.

John Smith, of Essex, was born in 1776. At 33 years of age he was convicted of embezzlement and sentenced to 14 years transportation. He stayed in Sydney as a convict for some years, and then, in 1815 married fellow convict Jane.

In 1819 his sentenced was commuted and he and Jane worked in Sydney. A few years later, some time between 1825-1828, the Smiths moved south to Bungendore. They lived and worked there until their deaths in 1847 and 1865 respectively.

The Smiths, right through to my grandmother, continued to live in Bungendore and many of them are buried in the cemetery there. The road, Smiths Gap, just outside the Bungendore township, is named after the family.

In a twist of fate, my great grandfather, Norman Patrick Smith, was killed in a car accident in 1962 on the same stretch of road named after his ancestors.

After learning my family history, it's no surprise that my heart beats for Canberra – the region is in my blood. But it's more than just the history that keeps me here. The city is beautiful, effervescent, cultured, educated, friendly.

I have travelled quite a lot in my 24 years, but nothing compares to Canberra. The community spirit never fails to amaze me, and the quality of life in our city is superb.

Those who mock our status as most livable city are missing out – we don't have to prove ourselves to them, because we already know how great we are.

Twitter: @laureningram