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Monday, Jan 27, 2025
Outside the box.
2025 Australia Day Honours Celebrates Notable Contributions
Revered Yolngu Elder Dr Galarrwuy Yunupingu Among 732 Australians Recognized
The 2025 Australia Day honours have been announced, marking the 50th anniversary of these prestigious awards.
This year, 732 Australians have been recognized for their diverse contributions across various fields, including the Order of Australia, meritorious awards, and distinguished service in the Australian Defence Force.
Revered Yolngu Elder and leader of the Gumatji clan, Dr Galarrwuy Yunupingu, who passed away in April 2023, has been posthumously awarded the esteemed Companion of the Order of Australia (AC) for his significant contributions to traditional land ownership, leadership in economic development initiatives, and fostering reconciliation and cultural respect.
He is joined by honorees such as Professor Megan Davis, a Cobble Cobble woman and co-chair of a key national advocacy group for Indigenous rights, Professor Gillian Triggs, known for her work in humanitarian and human rights law, and other notable Australians including epidemiologist Allen Cheuk-Seng Cheng, Justice James Joshua Edelman, and philanthropist Lyn Williams.
The list of Officers of the Order of Australia (AO) includes 23 honorees, among them Professor Robynne Quiggin for her distinguished services to the Indigenous community and Professor Veena Sahajwalla for her innovative research in recycling science.
Those named as Members of the Order of Australia (AM) include former federal defense minister Brendan Nelson and blind surfing champion Matthew Formston, recognized for his service to disability sports.
Additionally, Olympians such as canoeist Noemie Fox and other gold medallists from the 2024 Paris Olympic Games were awarded the Medal of the Order of Australia (OAM) for their contributions to sports.
Recent discussions have highlighted the need for greater representation of Australia's cultural and linguistic diversity in the honours list.
This year, Governor-General Sam Mostyn emphasized the awards' reflection of Australia’s multicultural history, though specific data on culturally and linguistically diverse (CALD) recipients was not disclosed.
Moreover, the percentage of female recipients dropped slightly from the previous year, making up 47 percent of the honorees compared to 50.5 percent last year.
Aside from the main honours, 25 individuals received recognition in the Military Division of the Order of Australia, alongside 196 Meritorious awards and 54 Distinguished and Conspicuous awards.
The list also included 24 individuals acknowledged for their contributions to Australia's COVID-19 response efforts.
This year, 732 Australians have been recognized for their diverse contributions across various fields, including the Order of Australia, meritorious awards, and distinguished service in the Australian Defence Force.
Revered Yolngu Elder and leader of the Gumatji clan, Dr Galarrwuy Yunupingu, who passed away in April 2023, has been posthumously awarded the esteemed Companion of the Order of Australia (AC) for his significant contributions to traditional land ownership, leadership in economic development initiatives, and fostering reconciliation and cultural respect.
He is joined by honorees such as Professor Megan Davis, a Cobble Cobble woman and co-chair of a key national advocacy group for Indigenous rights, Professor Gillian Triggs, known for her work in humanitarian and human rights law, and other notable Australians including epidemiologist Allen Cheuk-Seng Cheng, Justice James Joshua Edelman, and philanthropist Lyn Williams.
The list of Officers of the Order of Australia (AO) includes 23 honorees, among them Professor Robynne Quiggin for her distinguished services to the Indigenous community and Professor Veena Sahajwalla for her innovative research in recycling science.
Those named as Members of the Order of Australia (AM) include former federal defense minister Brendan Nelson and blind surfing champion Matthew Formston, recognized for his service to disability sports.
Additionally, Olympians such as canoeist Noemie Fox and other gold medallists from the 2024 Paris Olympic Games were awarded the Medal of the Order of Australia (OAM) for their contributions to sports.
Recent discussions have highlighted the need for greater representation of Australia's cultural and linguistic diversity in the honours list.
This year, Governor-General Sam Mostyn emphasized the awards' reflection of Australia’s multicultural history, though specific data on culturally and linguistically diverse (CALD) recipients was not disclosed.
Moreover, the percentage of female recipients dropped slightly from the previous year, making up 47 percent of the honorees compared to 50.5 percent last year.
Aside from the main honours, 25 individuals received recognition in the Military Division of the Order of Australia, alongside 196 Meritorious awards and 54 Distinguished and Conspicuous awards.
The list also included 24 individuals acknowledged for their contributions to Australia's COVID-19 response efforts.
