Margaret founded the Friends of Hughes Buffer Area Open Space Landcare group and played a significant role in restoring and protecting the local environment. She held a licence to collect seeds and propagate Rutidosis leptorrhynchoides (Button Wrinklewort), a rare local native plant. Margaret organised and coordinated Clean Up Australia Day events across Hughes and nearby Deakin, encouraging strong community involvement in caring for local open spaces and wider environment.

Nobel Laureates – (Carroll St)

Peter and Rolf were awarded the 1996 Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine for their groundbreaking discovery of T cells, a vital component of the immune system. Their work transformed global understanding of how the body recognises and fights infection.

Alinta is a Ngunnawal singer‑songwriter who has been helping revive and strengthen the Ngunnawal language since 2019. She leads Wamburang, a First Nations women’s choir named after the Ngunnawal word for the Black Cockatoo.

Alpha is a passionate music educator who has dedicated her career to teaching music and singing to children. She served as the Artistic Director and Conductor of the Woden Valley Youth Choir for 20 years, nurturing young voices and fostering a love of music across the community.

Des was an Australian academic, strategist, and security expert whose research played a key role in reducing global tensions during the Cold War. His work on nuclear strategy and intelligence helped shape international security policy and contributed to global conflict de‑escalation.

Sir Marcus Oliphant was a pioneering Australian physicist known for his influential contributions to nuclear physics and radar technology. He was also the founding President of the Australian Academy of Science and a key figure in advancing scientific research in Australia.

Stephanie is an award‑winning children’s author with an enduring passion for books, art, history, and the environment. Stephanie has written numerous acclaimed works for young readers, including picture books that explore environmental themes. Among these are Australia’s Wild Weird Wonderful Weather and Sensational Australian Animals, both of which have received national recognition.

Dorothy founded the National Brain Injury Foundation to support people living with acquired brain injuries. Her legacy continues through the Dorothy Sales Cottages, which provide long‑term housing and care for individuals with acquired brain injuries, offering dignity, stability, and community.

Michael is an ecologist and champion for the conservation of the Gang‑gang Cockatoo. He founded the Red Hill Regenerators Parkcare group and helped establish NatureMapr, a community‑driven platform that enables people to record and share sightings of local flora and fauna.

Lady in Pearls a much-loved statue, by Giovanna Ianiello, which was stolen from the Hughes shops in May 2016.  Police believe thieves snapped the bronze statue at the weld seam, possibly using a chain and vehicle to remove it.  Only the feet and part of the plinth remained.  Since this theft new statues include internal strengthening.

Pharmacist Harry Katsaros and assistant Christine Minchall-Alcott.

Hughes Capital Chemist is a mainstay of the Hughes Community. Many people travel from further afield for their pharmaceutical needs because of the support and outreach provided by the staff. Harry and Christine have organised “Biggest Morning Tea” fundraisers for breast cancer and other community support events.

Jenny Mobbs has made a difference for older Canberrans through her role as CEO for the Council on the Ageing (COTA) ACT. Her advocacy and work saw her named 2023 ACT Senior Woman of the Year. She advocates for the rights of older people and has been a representative on a range of advisory and working groups, including the ACT Ministerial Advisory Council on Ageing.

Jenny is a local resident whose work has helped preserve and celebrate the stories of the Hughes community. She wrote The Neighbourhood of Hughes, a key local history publication that documents the people, places, and events that have shaped the suburb. Jenny has been a key driver in the Hughes mural project and in keeping Hughes’ history alive for future generations. Jenny’s advocacy was instrumental in adding screening for Severe Combined Immune Deficiency (SCID) to the national Newborn Screening program.