A mobile health pioneer, a champion for volunteers, a youth worker, and a disabilities advocate have been honoured in the 2026 Australian of the Year for Queensland ceremony on November 12.

Dr Rolf Gomes, 52, has been named the 2026 Australian of the Year for Queensland.

Dr Gomes was confronted with how differently cardiac patients were treated in rural and remote Australia, that he decided to do something about it. He designed and launched the first Heart of Australia mobile 'Heart Trucks' to visit remote communities.

Today the Heart Trucks bring regular specialist clinics to over 30 towns in rural Australia, providing early diagnostic services that would otherwise be out of reach. Since 2014, the trucks have treated more than 20,000 patients and saved countless lives. The truck fleet

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