Born in Malta in 1932, Edgar John Azzopardi grew up in the thick of conflict. In World War II he survived German bombardment of his homeland, a tiny but strategically vital colony of the British Empire. When the war ended Azzopardi sought a new life on the other side of the globe.

Voigt's philosophy that "every child deserves to be safe at home" became the Barnardos mantra.

Stanley Weston, whose idea in the 1960s of a doll for boys became G.I. Joe, the world's first action figure.

Farmer Jock Campbell Wallis was aware of the damage to the land caused by generations of sheep farmers, and spent much of his life trying to repair it.

• Christina Olszewski and Colin Nettelbeck

Legendary teacher Micheline Giroux is deservedly remembered as one of the significant contributors to French studies in Melbourne. For students and colleagues alike, she was an authentic embodiment of all they associated with the idea of France.

Ueli Steck, who has died aged 40, was arguably the greatest mountain climber of his generation.

• Warwick Anderson and Frank Bongiorno

Hugh Anderson wrote prolifically on folklore and literary history, publishing more than 40 books and almost 100 articles. He was the leading scholar of folksong and 19th-century popular culture in this country.

Finch never talked despite torture.

Jack Cameron rated himself "not good enough" as a sportsman, but his skill with numbers and lifelong dedication made him a sports statistician rated as the very best.

Leonard wrote of her time in Calcutta: "Death, decay and despair mix in a pungent cocktail that no amount of disinfectant can ever hope to mask."

• Obituary

Jonathan Demme created a body of work that resists easy characterisation.

• Margaret Watters

Surgeon Jim Downie was honoured for his valuable contribution to the Austin Hospital over many years.

• Harry Barber and Alex Skovron

When teacher Connie Barber's children became more independent, she used her spare time to pursue painting and drawing and then started to write poetry, publishing five books of her poems.

Dennis Edwards Jr, Olga Hegedus, Kate O'Beirne

Jones gave birth to twins, a boy and a girl, the first in NSW to survive to a juvenile onset diabetic.

Pirsig maintained that 121 publishing houses rejected Zen before William Morrow accepted it. Within months of its release, it had sold 50,000 copies.

Producers on Happy Days began to pressure Erin Moran to watch what she ate and to wear more revealing outfits.

Voluntary advocacy work for veterans, their widows and families earned Ryan an OAM.

Clifton James, Trish Vradenburg, Lady Hambro

• Wendy Owen Antonini

Mary Owen's 'first life' revolved around family, home, mothers' clubs and church. But a job and contact with the union movement led her to become a tireless advocate for women's rights, health care and workplace equality.

Guitarist said of Dylan: "Bobby was telepathic, and when I use that word, I mean it. Between the two of us, the communication was always very strong."

John Southwell - 1930-2017

In 1955, a Chicago milkshake machine salesman was so impressed by a California client's assembly line-style restaurant that he bought the franchising rights and opened his own hamburger stand modelled after it in suburban Des Plaines, Illinois.

• Beverley Kingston

Roe's strong egalitarian principles meant the ADB became freely available on-line as the great research tool to everybody.

• Robin Norling 1939 - 2017

Sign writing was the early beginning to Robin Norling's trajectory.

She had lived in the same small, two-room apartment since 1926, with her collection of watches and her big bed.

• Charlie Murphy 1959 - 2017

Charlie Murphy became best known for a part on Dave Chappelle's acclaimed sketch-comedy series Chappelle's.

Sonographer's desire for the highest quality image led to development of new scanning techniques.

Carme​ Chacón, David Peel, Christopher Morahan