Lots of kids say they want to be an astronaut when they grow up, but hardly any get to follow through.
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Katherine Bennell-Pegg was one such child; she remembers staring at the sky and contemplating the stars, wondering what else was out there.
Cut to today, and Bennell-Pegg, who at 41 has already made history as Australia's first female astronaut, is also the 2026 Australian of the Year.
In a rousing speech at the National Arboretum on Sunday night, she said going into space wasn't about prestige, but purpose.
"Astronauts are scientists in the sky and service of their nation, just a visible part of a much bigger team on the ground, a team that includes every sector and every occupation," said.
"Astronauts go up there to make discoveries we can't make down here, with the atmosphere and gravity in the way, that span every field, like creating drought-tolerant crops, manufacturing new medicines, conducting experiments that reach into the heart of every classroom, getting kids off devices and amazed by the world around them and the role that they can play in it."
She said inspiring young people to study STEM subjects was more important than ever.
Bennell-Peg grew up on Sydney's northern beaches in the 1990s, decades before the nation had even founded its own space agency.
But with the unwavering support of her parents, who took her childhood ambitions seriously, she went on to graduate with degrees in engineering and advanced science, specialising in aeronautical engineering and physics, from the University of Sydney in 2007.
READ MORE AUSTRALIAN OF THE YEAR
But even then, there was no pathway in Australia to become an astronaut, so after finishing her degree, she moved overseas, following in the footsteps of Australian-born NASA astronauts like Paul Scully-Power.
She spent the next decade working on various European space projects, before she returned home to join the Australian Space Agency, not long after it was established in 2018.
She settled in Adelaide with her husband, who also works for the Australian Space Agency, and started a family.
But while Australia by then had its own space agency, it was still lacking an astronaut program.
When the European Space Agency opened applications for new astronauts, Bennell-Pegg jumped at the chance to fulfil her childhood dream, thanks to her dual British citizenship.
She graduated from Basic Astronaut Training in 2024 as part of a class of six trained by the European Astronaut Centre in Germany, the first international candidate to do so.
She was initially chosen for the program from a field of over 22,500 applicants; she recalled travelling to Europe several times during the COVID-19 pandemic to compete against candidates from 22 countries.
By the end of the incredibly challenging process, she finally received the call, with the European Space Agency offering to take her on as an astronaut representing Australia.
While other Australians, such as Scully-Power, had been to space before, they did so representing NASA as dual American citizens.
Bennell-Pegg is the first astronaut to represent Australia.
On the Game Changers podcast last year, she said her message to young women dreaming big about their future careers was simple yet profound: pursue dreams that are worthwhile and enjoyable - and stay focused.
"If you have a dream you think is worthwhile and enjoyable, pursue it without hesitation," she said.
"Don't be concerned if you're a minority or if you doubt your abilities. No one else will chase your dream for you. Give it your all to give yourself the best chance possible."
Alongside Bennell-Pegg's trailblazing career achievements, she's also a dedicated champion for Australia's space program, regularly presenting to audiences of schoolchildren and industry leaders to inspire the next generation and create new opportunities.
