Rugby league star Johnathan Thurston is among four Queenslanders nominated for state-based Australian of the Year honours.
The North Queensland Cowboys captain and Test playmaker, who was grounded for most of the NRL season, has been nominated for the award for his work as an indigenous mentor.
Among Thurston's few moments on the field in 2017, he played through a season-ending shoulder injury in State of Origin's game two to kick Queensland to an unlikely comeback victory and keep their series hopes alive.
Fellow NRL identity Brisbane Broncos chief executive Paul White, a brain cancer survivor, is also a contender thanks to his work extending the club's positive impact on the community.
Homeless women's advocate Rochelle Courtenay and pioneering maternal fetal surgeon Dr Glenn Gardner are the other two nominees for next year's title.
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The Queensland Australian of the Year will be announced on November 8, along with recipients for the state's Senior Australian of the Year, Young Australian of the Year and Local Hero Award winner.
Taxi driver Aguek Nyok is one of the nominees for the Local Hero award, having saved 11 bus passengers during a fatal attack on driver Manmeet Alisher at Moorooka in October 2016.
Nyok used his karate skills to kick open the bus's back door and help the passengers escape harm.
Unfortunately Mr Alisher, who was also known as Manmeet Sharma, couldn't be saved.
The Queensland award recipients will join a cohort of 32 state and territory recipients from around Australia in the national awards, which will take place in Canberra on January 25.
