Meet our state's real heroes. The 11 inspirational mums, dads, grandpas and sisters in our community, selflessly dedicating their lives to helping others. KATRINA STOKES shares the remarkable stories of the people we feel proud to call our own. They are the winners of this year's Pride of Australia Awards announced yesterday at a ceremony at Keith Murdoch House. We salute you and we thank you.
COMMUNITY SPIRIT Walter Silzer Walker Silzer is living proof that age has no bounds. At nearly 96, Mr Silzer is still a regular weekly driver for Meals on Wheels, delivering food in Norwood. The oldest volunteer in the organisation, he is an inspiration to staff and clients and shows no signs of slowing down. Asked of his secret to success? "I didn't smoke, I didn't drink and I didn't gamble," he said upon receiving his medal, as the crowd erupted in laughter. 
COURAGE Ros Mahoney Battling Multiple Sclerosis for more than a decade, Ms Mahoney uses her own illness as a reason to inspire others, rather than a liability to slow her down. She spends her time running a successful course teaching life skills to the disabled and volunteers her home to help the homeless and troubled children in her community.
YOUNG LEADER William Russell He's only 21 but William "Billy" Russell shows maturity well beyond his years. Inspired by his friend Tony, who committed suicide after being bullied for being gay, he is making it his life's work to put bullies in their place. Billy created Teen Support Network, a social media organisation which helps people suffering from harassment at school, the workplace and at home. The website already has more than 4000 Facebook and Twitter followers.
ENVIRONMENT Janet Pedler For almost 40 years, Janet Pedler has worked tirelessly campaigning for the environment in SA and believes her passion is in her blood. "I was born with it as many who work in this field do," she said yesterday. As an active volunteer for Birds SA, the Nature Conservation Society of SA and SA Field Naturalists, she has re-established native habitat in multiple re-vegetation projects over the years, one of which resulted in the return of an extinct bird species.
HEROISM Daryl Hutchins As the Sampson Flat bushfires raged through the Adelaide Hills, homes and farms were lost ... but so was wildlife and some of our beloved four-legged friends. On Saturday,   January 2, 2015, Daryl Hutchins, captain of the Paracombe CFS, rescued almost 30 dogs from the burning kennels at Tea Tree Gully Boarding Kennels and Cattery. Mr Hutchins lost his own two dogs, Gemma and Max, in the fire and even gave one dog called Gus mouth-to-mouth to save him. "I had to get those dogs out ... I thought they were all gone," he said.
FAIR GO Modeste Hatungimana (main picture) After fleeing his home country of Burundi due to civil war, Modeste migrated to Australia in 2006 under a humanitarian visa. Since then, he has completed a double degree in Social Work and International Relations which has given him the opportunity to give something back to his fellow Africans. In 2009, Mr Hatungimana started the Northern Refugee Social Club as a way to help refugee children settle in their new community. "(It's a place) they can play soccer, share stories and enjoy having fun," he said.
INSPIRATION Roy Menner Water safety is important for a nation surrounded by ocean and a population who loves the beach and swimming. Recognising this, Roy Menner started the On The Same Wave program at the Henley Surf Life Saving Club, a program which has taught children from all over the world water safety. Many of the participants have gone on to patrol beaches and teach others to do the same.
CARE AND COMPASSION Nigel Farrow He's just a regular dad who loves his daughter but it was that fierce love and fight to make a difference that has inspired Nigel Farrow's personal drive to find a cure for cystic fibrosis. Since his daughter Ella, 12, was diagnosed with the life-threatening condition, Mr Farrow quit his job as a musician and dedicated his life's work to the cause. Eight years later, two medical science degrees, a Masters and PhD to his name, today he works at the Women's and Children's Hospital as a gene therapist, using stem cells to improve lung function.
CHILD OF COURAGE Chelsea George She is fighting her own battle with Acute Lymphocytic Leukaemia but brave Chelsea George, 10, still wants to help others. Since 2009, she joined Camp Quality and instantly forged a bond with special needs campers and continues to help others, including a teenage boy who had not spoken for sometime until Chelsea started playing with him.
Her proud dad Tony and brother Bailey, 7, accepted her award yesterday because she is in Sydney receiving cutting-edge treatment. "This is her last chance," Mr George said. "She continues to do amazing things even though she's gone through so much." OUTSTANDING BRAVERY Rowland Williams (main picture) Not many people can say they have saved a man's life and if you asked Rowland Williams, he would likely play down his heroic efforts in doing just that. Involved in a high-speed crash after another truck failed to yield, Mr Williams was knocked unconscious and awoke to find himself handing from his seat belt in his cabin. Hearing a call for help from the other truck, he risked his own life to save the driver. Moments later the cabin exploded. "I looked at the burning rig and saw a hand ... I had to so something," he said.
PEOPLE'S CHOICE MEDAL Daljit Rao Arriving in Australia from Fiji as a 14-year-old, Daljit Rao had a passion to succeed at a young age. A pioneer in the hospitality industry and at just 31, she was the first female General Manager of a heritage CBD hotel chain, the Grosvenor. Since then, she has entered the education sector, opening her own organisations, Visionplanet Australia and Professional Education Academic Requirement, providing academic and career counselling to international students and migrants. She was humble in her award acceptance. "I'd like to congratulate everyone who is here - all the finalists are winners," she said.