We asked, you answered. Here are Mamamia's 50 Best Blokes for 2016.

September 12, 2016

At a time when there is a lot of bad news in the world, much of it about men, we wanted to shift focus. Get positive. Encourage good role models.

At Mamamia, we wanted to acknowledge and celebrate the Australian men who are doing good things; for women and who are trying to make our country a better place.

We came up with 100 names as thought-starters and then asked our readers to pick their top 50. And here they are. We’re thrilled to publish our inaugural list of Australia’s 50 Best Blokes.

In no particular order, check out the full list here. Post continues below.

Professor Yogesan KanagasingamMedical innovator focused on the development of low-cost diagnostic tools. Creator of an eye test to detect Alzheimer's. (image via Getty)

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Samuel Johnson.Actor and founder of breast cancer fundraising charity Love Your Sister. (Image via Getty).

Anh DoVietnamese refugee, now award-winning comedian and author, actor and film producer. (Image via Getty)

Andrew HarperHumanitarian and Head of the United Nations Refugee Agency in Jordan who works to provide food, shelter, water and health care to some of the biggest refugee camps in the world. (Image via Andrew Harper site)

Nic Marchesi and Lucas PatchettYoung Australians of the Year, social entrepreneurs, founders of Orange Sky Laundry, a free mobile laundry service that helps the homeless in more than 36 locations. (Image via Facebook)

Professor Ian Frazer.Inventor of the cervical cancer vaccine, world-renowned immunologist, Australian of the Year 2006. (Image via Getty).

Tim MinchinInternationally acclaimed composer, musician, comedian, actor, director and one of the creative forces behind Matilda: The Musical. (Image via Getty)

Hugh Jackman.Award-winning actor, World Vision Australia ambassador, Adopt Change ambassador and humanitarian. (Image via Facebook)

Professor Gordian Fulde Director of Emergency Surgery at St Vincent’s Hospital and Sydney Hospital, Senior Australian of the Year 2016, passionate opponent of binge drinking and drugs. (Image via Getty)

Dr John Greenwood. Burns surgeon who treated 67 of the victims of the 2002 Bali terror attacks, South Australia’s 2016 Australian of the Year, innovator who is developing a biodegradable skin graft substitution. (Image via YouTube)

Adam GaroneCo-Founder and former CEO of the Movember Foundation. (Image via Getty)

Bob BrownEnvironmentalist, former Greens leader, founder of the Bob Brown Foundation, founding member of the Wilderness Society. (Image via Twitter)

Andrew DentonTelevision presenter, Logie nominee. Thrust voluntary assisted death into the public eye after a landmark series of podcasts. (Image via Getty)

Adam Goodes.Two-times Brownlow Medal winner, Australian of the Year 2014, outspoken campaigner against racism, passionate supporter of the Indigenous community. (Image via Getty).

Eric BanaActor, ambassador for Youth Off the Streets, campaigner to raise awareness of mental health. (Image via Getty)

Ben QuiltyInternationally renowned artist, winner of 2011 Archibald prize, official war artist with the ADF in Afghanistan, opponent of the death penalty. (Image via Getty)

Ben Roberts-SmithSoldier awarded the Victoria Cross, the Medal for Gallantry and a Commendation for Distinguished Service. (Image via Getty)

Boris StrukFounder of Muscular Dystrophy Austrealia and a tireless fundraiser for the cause, raising more than $42 million since 1991. (Image via LinkedIn)

Chris HemsworthActor, father of three and The Australian Childhood Foundation Ambassador for abused and neglected children. (Image via Instagram)

Waleed Aly.Walkley Award winning journalist, presenter on The Project and Gold Logie winner, social and political commentator. (Image via Getty)

David PocockAustralian rugby union player, co-founder of community development organisation EightTwentyVision, outspoken campaigner on climate change, and Western Australia’s 2012 Young Australian of the Year. (Image via Facebook)

Dr. Chris BrownVet, television personality, ambassador for Assistance Dogs Australia, active in improving animal health in remote Australian communities. (Image via Facebook)

Glenn McGrathChampion cricketer, co-founder and president of the McGrath Foundation to improve awareness and services for breast cancer. (Image via Getty)

Hamish BlakeComedian, radio and television personality, ambassador for Soldier On. (Image via Getty)

Will MacgregorYouth worker, founder of youth program Bushmob, working with marginalised young people to tackle alcohol and drug abuse, Australian of the Year finalist 2016. (Image via Facebook)

Ian KiernanFounder of Clean Up Australia and Clean Up the World, advocate for the environment, Australian of the Year 1994. (Image via Getty)

Karl KruszelnickiSelf-confessed geek with degrees in physics and maths, biomedical engineering, medicine and surgery, prolific author, broadcaster, member of the Order of Australia, 2007 Australian Skeptic of the Year and 2003 Father of the Year. (Image via Getty)

Kurt FearnleyChampion wheelchair athlete and three-time Paralympian gold medallist, passionate advocate for people with disabilities, board member of Australian Volunteers International. (Image via Getty)

Noel PearsonIndigenous leader, land rights activist, lawyer, founder of think tank the Cape York Partnership. (Image via Getty)

Lance HockridgeCEO of Aurizon, which offers six months paid parental leave for men. Federal Government Ambassador for Equal Pay, a Male Champion of Change, winner of a UN leadership award for championing gender equality in the workplace. (Image via The Australian)

Nick GalesDirector of the Australian Antarctic Division, author, science mentor, developed scientific models to preserve living marine resources in the Antarctic and Southern Ocean. (Image via Antarctica)

Rodney CroomeEquality activist, advocate for the LGBT community, founder of Australian Marriage Equality. (Image via Getty)

Adam SpencerWriter, broadcaster, mathematician and comedian, board member of cancer charity Redkite, ambassador for Dry July. (Image via Getty)

Peter GresteForeign correspondent who spent 400 days in an Egyptian jail, press freedom campaigner, winner of the Anzac Peace Prize. (Image via Getty)

Robert GilliesCo-founder of Homeless of Melbourne, HIV researcher and social entrepreneur who is heavily involved in poverty relief. (Image via NADC)

Stan GrantIndigenous rights campaigner, Walkley Award-winning journalist, international correspondent. (Image via Getty)

Wil AndersonAward-winning comedian, broadcaster, television host, Gold Logie nominee. (Image via Facebook)

Fred HydeWorld War II veteran and philanthropist behind not-for-profit CO-ID, rescuing and educating thousands of abandoned children in Bangladesh. One of Australia’s oldest charity workers. (Image via Getty)

Geoffrey RobertsonEquality activist, advocate for the LGBT community, founder of Australian Marriage Equality. (Image via Getty)

Zac LockhartA former homeless teen, now filmmaker and mental health advocate, who works to change perceptions of those living rough. (Image via NADC)

George JelinekLeading medical professional specialising in MS, author, award-winning emergency service specialist. (Image via YouTube)

Adam HillComedian and television host who is outspoken on a range of social issues. (Image via Getty)

Pat RafterWinner of the US tennis open who donated half the prize money from his US Open wins to the Starlight Children’s Foundation. Twice a finalist at Wimbledon, Australian of the Year 2002. Opponent of factory farming. (Image via Getty)

Charlie PickeringTelevision and chat show host, comedian and political commentator. (Image via Getty)

Julian McMahonBarrister, fierce opponent of the death penalty, human rights advocate and president of Reprieve Australia. (Image via Getty)

Chris RileyAdvocate for disadvantaged youth, founder and CEO of Youth Off the Streets, winner of the Human Rights medal and two-time winner of the Prime Minister’s Award for Excellence. (Image via Getty)

Geoffrey RushAcclaimed film and stage actor who won an Oscar for the film Shine. (Image via Getty)

Tim FlanneryScientist, Chief Commissioner of the Climate Commission, conservationist,explorer and author. Australian of the Year 2007. (Image via Getty

Peter FitzsimonsAuthor and member of the Order of Australia for services to literature, Australian Republican movement chairman, journalist and former Wallaby. (Image via Getty)

David MorrisonA champion of change, committed to gender equality, chair of the Australian Diversity Council, Australian of the Year 2016. (Image via Getty)

Over the next week, we’ll be counting down the top ten. We hope you’ll join us in celebrating the blokes who try to move the needle of social change. The blokes who are feminists. The blokes who promote women and defend women and help break down the barriers so women can succeed. The blokes who are brave and smart and generous and strong. The bloke who move us to tears and laughter and awe.

Our Best Blokes.

Join us here as we celebrate our top ten.

Tags: best-blokes , tentpole-hero