Then, as now, the south-east Asian kingdom was an exciting and vibrant world within a world, light years removed from what she had previously known.

''It was actually a bit challenging,'' she said. ''I went to the International School which was mainly for Americans. It was known as 'Heroin High'. I was oblivious to all that at the time, but did see a lot of people hanging around outside.''

Mrs Rolfe said that even in Thailand, opportunities for youthful indiscretions were strictly limited. Not unexpected given her father, Brian Courtier, was a high ranking naval officer and the assistant defence attache in Bangkok, and her mother Pam had trained and worked as a nurse. ''Yes, it was a fairly strict upbringing, but I now realise I had a fantastic childhood,'' she said. ''You don't really understand that until you have had the responsibility for bringing up children of your own.''

Thailand turned out to be a wonderful place, exposing Mrs Rolfe and her brothers David and Damien and her sister Danielle to cultures, traditions and beliefs they could never have experienced at home.

Because of her father's navy work the bulk of Mrs Rolfe's childhood was spent in Canberra and Nowra.

Her decision to study law was made early, thanks to the influence of excellent teachers (one English and two legal studies) who encouraged an innate talent for debating.

''I had an amazing English teacher at Belconnen High,'' she said. ''Debating and public speaking showed me the power of words and I really enjoyed it. At Hawker I had two great legal studies teachers and loved the use of language. [But] if you asked my parents they'd tell you I went into law because I loved a good argument.''

The law is something she is passionate about. ''Why is it a worthwhile career? You are there fighting for people who don't have the capacity to achieve justice themselves.''

Her work as a personal injury lawyer working within the ACT's sometimes maligned system of compensation through litigation can bring this into stark relief.

''I have had a number of clients who, as a result of a car accident, can't work. They lose their homes, they lose their families and frequently end up with mental health issues. It is good to be part of a process that gives them a result that goes beyond the no-fault schemes [in other jurisdictions]. This is what Compulsory Third Party Insurance is for.''

Mrs Rolfe said being listed as a finalist in the local hero section of the Australian of the Year awards had come as an unexpected honour, especially as she had been advised that her husband, prominent Canberra businessman and philanthropist Richard Rolfe, had been nominated.

''We had an unusual situation where Richard was aware I had been nominated, but couldn't tell me, and I knew he had been nominated, but couldn't tell him,'' she said. ''I wasn't surprised for Richard, who does a lot of philanthropic work, but I was quite humbled; I hadn't thought my role was that significant.''

That ''role'' is as chairman of the Canberra Hospital Foundation. ''I first became involved about four years ago when we were known as the Wellness Foundation. It was felt that a more accurate (and descriptive) name was in order and we rebadged it.''

Working for the hospital foundation appeals to Mrs Rolfe on many levels. One of these is firsthand knowledge of how the institution can touch the lives of an entire family.

''Our twins were born eight weeks premature [at the old Canberra Hospital],'' she said. ''The care and the empathy we were shown was enormous. What had been quite a traumatic experience was made much easier.

''Richard has also had health issues and spent time in the new hospital. When you are there you can't feel sorry for yourself; there is always someone who is worse off.''

Mrs Rolfe said a major challenge for the Canberra Hospital was delivering a level and standard of services normally associated with major teaching hospitals in cities of three and four million people to a catchment population of well under a million.

''People shouldn't have to leave Canberra for treatment elsewhere,'' she said. ''We are a capital city.''

The staff are the hospital's greatest asset and she is determined, through the foundation, to ensure they have the best tools to do their jobs.

''We have people who live for their work,'' she said. ''They go home still worrying about their patients. They put their heart and soul into it and do an amazing job.''

This is reflected in the internal support the foundation receives. ''The staff have faith in where they work. Some of our most regular supporters are the people who work here.''

Mrs Rolfe said she had been drawn to the foundation because it was an umbrella charity that let people support specific areas of operation, departments or even wards and facilities such as the oncology unit.

''Any donation to the foundation can be targeted for a specific purpose,'' she said. ''It doesn't have to go into a general fund or revenue stream.''

Mr and Mrs Rolfe and the other finalists in the ACT Australian Of The Year 2014 will attend a special function where the winners in each category will be announced on Monday at The National Arboretum.

The finalists, by category, are:

■ AUSTRALIAN OF THE YEAR 2014: Matt Darling - software designer (O'Connor); Associate Professor Zsuzsoka Kecskes - neonatal specialist (Fisher); Caro Roach - film producer and arts advocate (Gungahlin); Alasdair Roy - children's advocate (Campbell).

■ ACT SENIOR AUSTRALIAN OF THE YEAR 2014: Bob Buckley - autism activist (Ainslie); Subhash Chandra Jalota - community leader (Bruce); Bernadine Mulholland PSM - physiotherapist (Chapman); Graham Walker - veterans' campaigner (Curtin).

■ ACT YOUNG AUSTRALIAN OF THE YEAR 2014: John Bale - humanitarian (Bruce); Caroline Buchanan - elite sportswoman (Kambah); Jake Floros - cricket mentor (Bonython); Huy Nguyen - disability advocate (Isaacs).

■ ACT LOCAL HERO 2014: Gordon McAlpine ESM - volunteer (Theodore); Patricia Mowbray OAM - disability champion (Macquarie); Richard Rolfe OAM and Deborah Rolfe - Philanthropists (Red Hill); Catriona (Katie) Tonacia - mental illness advocate (Barton).