Cirrus@Austlit

'Jean Robertson learnt to drive almost as soon as her feet could touch the pedals — and then she taught her bestie Kathleen Howell to do the same.

'The two friends mastered automobiles at a time that you weren't likely to see a woman behind the wheel. Once they'd nailed that, they crossed the whole of Australia by car and smashed land speed records.'  (Production summary)

'Andrea Boyd grew up loving the science fiction series Star Trek. And when she wasn't at school, conducting science experiments or staring at the TV, she was staring at the sky.

'But when the world's best engineers built the International Space Station, Andrea realised science fact was better than science fiction. She worked hard to become their only Aussie flight controller, talking to the astronauts who lived in the space station as it orbited Earth.

'But Andrea didn't stop there — she wanted to bring space exploration to Australia. She convinced the country's leading academics, businesspeople, and the government to open the Australian Space Agency.'  (Production summary)

'Caroline Buchanan rode in her first big international BMX race when she was nine, waving to the crowd, soaring down hills, gliding through the air.

'It was a feeling too good to give up. Even when her brother broke his neck and two arms. Even when she missed out on medals at the London and Rio Olympics. And even when she ended up in hospital, all of it was worth it.

'Caroline Buchanan endured to become a world champion in both BMX and mountain biking. And she's not done yet.'  (Production summary)

'Faith Thomas grew up throwing rocks at galahs. She'd only been playing proper cricket for a couple of weeks before she was picked to represent South Australia.

'Her phenomenal stats made headlines. So, it was no great surprise when Faith got called up to represent Australia against England in Brisbane. When she stepped onto the Gabba cricket ground, she became the first Aboriginal person to play on any Australian team… not just cricket.

'But cricket was just a game to Faith. So, not long after that test, she left sport behind to dedicate herself to saving lives as a nurse.'  (Production summary)

'Nyadol Nyuon's family is from South Sudan, but she was born in a refugee camp.

'Every night she prayed that her family could move to Australia. And, when she was 18, her prayers were answered.

'In Australia, Nyadol wanted to be a lawyer, but her teachers didn't think she had the ability.

'Nyadol had some surprises in store for those doubters.

'She did become a lawyer and, when the media unfairly targeted African youths in their reports, she found her voice and fought to give refugees a voice too.'  (Production summary)

'When Madeline Stuart was 17, her mum took her to a fashion parade where most of the models seemed to fit a tall, thin, predictable box.

'Maddy was born with Down Syndrome, a condition that means she has an extra chromosome. And while she didn't look like the models she saw in magazines, fashionistas thought Maddy was beautiful.

'They invited her onto the catwalks of New York, London, Paris — every corner of the globe.

'Maddy always knew she could conquer the world — and now she's showing everyone else that they can too.'  (Production summary)

'Even as a young girl, Celeste Barber always had a funny story that would make everyone laugh out loud.

'Celeste dreamed of starring in a TV comedy like Friends, but she went on to play a paramedic in a popular medical drama. And when that series flatlined, she used Instagram to take the world by storm, one funny photo at a time.

'During the devastating bushfires of 2019-20, Celeste knew she couldn't grab a hose and put out the fires herself. So, she launched a fundraising appeal and raised $50 million dollars for the New South Wales RFS Brigades Donation Fund.

'Celeste Barber was way more than an Instagram star, she was a hero. And she had the last laugh.'  (Production summary)
 

'When Kath Ruska's dad told her white people would never recognise Aboriginal culture, she hoped he was wrong. She became a famous poet, using her pen as a weapon to fight for Indigenous rights.

'Her words took her all the way to Parliament House, where she demanded the Prime Minister do more to improve the lives of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders.

'But she still had an English name, so she changed it to Aboriginal language -Oodgeroo, meaning paper bark, and Noonuccal, the name of her tribe.

'Oodgeroo moved back to her island home — Minjerribah — and figured out the best way to make sure her culture was always remembered: she taught it to children, black and white.' (Production summary)