Fred Hollows, a New Zealand and Australian ophthalmologist who restored eyesight for countless thousands of people worldwide, once said "I believe that the basic attribute of mankind is to look after each other".
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The 29 year 6 ACT nominees for the 2015 Fred Hollows Humanity Award will receive an award at the ACT Legislative Assembly on September 25 for showing compassion. One will be named the ACT Junior Ambassador and will allocate $2500 to one of The Fred Hollows Foundation's programs to end avoidable blindness.
Students Lyara McCarron from Trinity Christian School, Matthew Cannon from St Jude's Primary School and Bella Connellan from Mount Rogers Primary School (all aged 11), are in the running for the award.
Lyara was nominated for always assisting anyone in need, especially a girl in her class who is intellectually impaired.
"I help her and care for her and I play with her some lunchtimes when other people don't," she said.
"I do it because I understand how people feel when they're sad ... I know that she feels happy when I do because she always has a big smile when I come and help her."
She said she'll continue helping people, because she finds it "fun to see what a difference it makes".
Matthew Cannon always considers others less fortunate than himself and won't pass a homeless person or busker without giving money if he has some.
"I feel really sorry for them because they are on the streets really poor, so I just have to go into my pocket and get some money out and give it to them," he said.
He has been an altar server for St Jude's Church for three years and volunteers at Mirinjani Nursing Home with his school, which he intends to continue after the program finishes.
Isabella sacrifices her lunchtimes volunteering in the canteen, helped establish a breakfast literacy initiative encouraging students to read, and cooked for the school's Pink Week which raised more than $1500 for the McGrath Foundation.
"I feel volunteering is a great thing to do because instead of wasting my time at lunch I'm actually doing something to help someone," Isabella said.
"I really want to become one of the helping with vulnerable people ambassadors like my mum, because I really want to go ahead and help people whenever I can."
The ACT lawn bowls champion is competing in an upcoming Nationals competition and also tutors younger students in her favourite sport.
Director of public affairs at The Fred Hollows Foundation Nick Martin said he's thrilled so many children have followed in Professor Hollows' footsteps.
"Over the last four years some amazing young Canberrans have been nominated for the Award and this year has been no exception," he said.
