The promising young actor and star of Home and Away had just landed her first feature film, Harmony, when she tragically died in a Boxing Day car crash, aged 29, along with her parents and sister.

The former Melbourne Lord Mayor and Liberal Party stalwart counted Queen Elizabeth II among his many powerful connections. In the 1990s he famously wrestled the Australian Grand Prix from Adelaide and moved it to Melbourne. He died aged 78.

Former Comancheros bikie boss Mahmoud "Mick" Hawi was gunned down in a brazen daylight murder outside a Rockdale gym, aged 37. He'd been previously jailed over the 2009 bashing death of Hell's Angels associate Anthony Zervas.

The five-time winner of the Ned Kelly Award and first ever crime writer to win the Miles Franklin is best known for his crime fiction character Jack Irish, later played by Guy Pearce in a television series spin-off. He died aged 71.

The Howard government minister presided over the introduction of Centrelink, family tax benefits and the youth allowance and was a passionate supporter of legalising euthanasia. She died aged 80.

The former Wide World of Sports commentator worked across television and radio for more than 40 years, becoming the booming voice of the Commonwealth Games and the State of Origin. He died aged 75.

Lead singer of the 1980s Australian pop band Wa Wa Nee Paul Gray went on to work as keyboard player and musical director for Tina Arena and Kate Cebrano. He dies at 54.

The Murrungan man rose to fame as the lead in the 1978 film, The Chant of Jimmie Blacksmith, and went on to make dozens of appearances in Australian films and television programs. He died aged 59 from natural causes.

The six-time Logie nominee best known for playing the villain, on shows like The Young Doctors, Sons and Daughters, Home and Away and The Weakest Link, died aged 77 from cancer.

Miller helped launch the careers of Marcia Hines and Jon English and brought out US jazz musician Louis Armstrong and Judy Garland to Australia. He died aged 84.

Australia's top Islamic leader and founding member of the Australian National Imams Council was remembered as a 'peacemaker' after he died aged 48 from cancer.

The prize-winning painter best known for his Schoolgirls and Alice in Wonderland series was one of Australia's most significant figurative artists of the 20th century. He died aged 90.

The 'godfather' of crime fiction renowned for his long-running series about private investigator Cliff Hardy dies in his sleep aged 76.

The champion race car driver became a multi-millionaire and household name after opening his tyre chain Bob Jane T-Marts stores. He died aged 88.

The controversial broadcaster and sports journalist gained national notoriety after an on-air punch-up with singer and Vietnam veteran Normie Rowe on daytime television. He died aged 89.

Despite being born with a genetic condition, which caused his bones to break, Kenihan became a prominent disability advocate, author, and actor. He died aged 43.

The Australian of the Year recipient (1994) sailed competitively for more than 40 years. After seeing waterways clogged with pollution he founded Clean Up Australia, and then Clean Up The World. He died aged 78.

Hours before the 76-year-old passed away from cancer, a musical flashmob performed The Dam Busters March for the chief conductor of the Canberra Symphony Orchestra who was a strong supporter of spontaneous musical events. He received an Order of Australia Medal in 1994.

The "Father of Independents" stormed through all three tiers of Australian government as a North Shore independent before retiring in 1988. He died aged 84.

Australian Associated Press