Patty Mills honoured in ACT awards

By Katina Curtis

CANBERRA, Nov 3 AAP - What do you give a 26-year-old who has an NBA championship ring, two Olympic singlets and the keys to Canberra?

The ACT has honoured international basketball star Patty Mills with its 2015 Young Australian of the Year award.

The San Antonio Spurs star began his career on Canberra basketball courts, and shooting hoops at a homemade ring on Thursday Island.

After the Spurs won the US basketball championship this year, Mills and teammate Aron Baynes brought the trophy on a tour of Australia, which he used in part to raise awareness of his indigenous heritage.

ACT Chief Minister Katy Gallagher announced the award for Mills at a ceremony in Canberra on Monday.

Business and philanthropic leader Glenn Keys is the ACT Australian of the Year.

He advocates corporate social responsibility and puts the theory into practice as managing director of healthcare provider Aspen Medical.

Mr Keys is passionate about helping people with a disability realise their potential, holding positions with Special Olympics ACT and on the board of the National Disability Insurance Agency.

Humanitarian and volunteer Sandra Mahlberg was awarded 2015 ACT Senior Australian of the Year for her work with Rotary Oceania Medical Aid for Children.

Damian De Marco was named the 2015 ACT Local Hero for his work as a child sexual assault campaigner, stemming from his own abuse at the hands of a Marist Brother in the 1980s.

He spent four decades fighting to prevent other children from suffering the same experience, including giving evidence at the royal commission into child sexual abuse earlier this year.

The national Australian of the Year awards will be announced on January 25.