Order of Australia

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Insignia of a Companion of the Order of Australia (AC).
Insignia of a Companion of the Order of Australia (AC).

The Order of Australia is an order of chivalry established by Elizabeth II on February 14, 1975 "for the purpose of according recognition to Australian citizens and other persons for achievement or for meritorious service". The Order is divided into general and military divisions, with the following grades in descending order of seniority:

  • Knight or Dame (AK or AD; granted 1976-1986)
  • Companion (AC)
  • Officer (AO)
  • Member (AM)
  • Medal of the Order of Australia (OAM; from 1976).

Contents

[edit] History

The Order was established on February 14, 1975 by Letters patent of Elizabeth II, Queen of Australia, and countersigned by the then Labor Prime Minister Gough Whitlam. Before the establishment of the Order, Australian citizens received British honours. The original Order had only three grades: Companion (AC), Officer (AO) and Member (AM).

On 24 May 1976, the further categories of Knight (AK), Dame (AD), and Medal of the Order of Australia (OAM) were established by the Queen on the advice of Whitlam's Liberal successor Malcolm Fraser.

Labor's Bob Hawke made it an election promise prior to the 1983 election to abolish the Knight and Dame categories. Following his election, on 3 March 1986 the Queen signed Letters patent countersigned by Hawke, revoking the category of Knight or Dame. Existing Knights and Dames were not affected by the new patent. The Prince of Wales is a Knight of the Order of Australia.

The Queen of Australia is Sovereign of the Order while the Governor-General of Australia is Principal Companion and Chancellor of the Order.

The Order of Australia is modelled closely upon the Order of Canada. However, when compared with the Order of Canada, the Order of Australia has been awarded rather more liberally, especially in regard to honorary awards for foreigners. While the Order of Canada has only been awarded to twelve non-Canadians to date, more non-Australians have received the Order of Australia honour by comparison.[citation needed]

[edit] Appointment

The Order formerly consisted of four grades and a medal, in both general and military divisions. Knighthood of the Order was made in the general division only.

While State Governors can present the Order of Australia to his/her state's residents, only the Governor General can present the Companion level of Order of Australia. [1]

The different grades of the Order are awarded according to the recipients' level of achievement:

Companion
for eminent achievement and merit of the highest degree in service to Australia or to humanity at large.
Officer
for distinguished service of a high degree to Australia or to humanity at large.
Member
for service in a particular locality or field of activity or to a particular group.
Medal of the Order of Australia
for service worthy of particular recognition

Any person may nominate any Australian citizen for an award. The nominations are reviewed by the Order of Australia Council, independent of any political interference, and then approved by the Governor-General. The Order is awarded twice annually: on Australia Day, and on the Queen's Birthday public holiday in June, when public announcements are made about new awards.

Appointments to the Order are not made posthumously; however, if a nominee dies after accepting an appointment but before the relevant announcement date, the appointment still stands and it is announced as having effect from the date of the nominee's death.

[edit] Insignia

The badge of the Order of Australia is a convex disc (gold for ACs, gilt for AOs, AMs and OAMs) representing the Golden Wattle flower. At the centre is a ring, representing the sea, with the word 'Australia' below two branches of golden wattle. The whole disc is topped by the Royal crown of St Edward. The AC badge is decorated with citrines, blue enamelled ring, and enamelled crown. The AO badge is similar, without the citrines. For the AM badge only the crown is enamelled, and the OAM badge is plain.

The star for knights and dames is a convex golden disc decorated with citrines, with a blue royally crowned inner disc bearing an image of the Coat of Arms of Australia.

Civil Division ribbon
Civil Division ribbon
Military Division ribbon
Military Division ribbon

The ribbon of the Order is blue with a central stripe of golden wattle flower designs; that of the military division has additional golden edge stripes. Male ACs and AOs wear their badges on a necklet; male AMs and OAMs wear them on a ribbon on the left chest. Women usually wear their badges on a bow on the left shoulder, although they may wear the same insignia as males if so desired.

The Order's insignia were designed by Stuart Devlin.

Companion of the Order of Australia (AC).

Officer of the Order of Australia (AO).

Member of the Order of Australia (AM).

Medal of the Order of Australia (OAM).

[edit] Officials of the Order

[edit] Knights and Dames

The category of Knight (AK) or Dame (AD) of the order was created on 24 May 1976, and was abolished on 3 March 1986. Existing knights and dames were not affected by the removal of the category. During this period, twelve knights and two dames were created, of whom nine of the knights and both of the dames are now deceased.

This is a complete list of the Knights and Dames of the Order of Australia. It is shown in order of appointment; living knights are shown in bold:

Name Date of Appointment Date of Death
Sir John Kerr AK, GCMG, GCVO 24 May 1976 24 March 1991
Sir Robert Menzies KT, AK, CH, QC 7 June 1976 15 May 1978
Sir Colin Syme AK 6 June 1977 1986
Sir Zelman Cowen AK GCMG GCVO QC 8 December 1977 living
Sir MacFarlane Burnet OM, AK, KBE 26 January 1978 31 August 1985
Dame Alexandra Hasluck AD 6 June 1978 18 June 1993
Dame Enid Lyons AD, GBE 26 January 1980 2 September 1981
HRH The Prince Charles, Prince of Wales KG KT GCB OM AK QSO PC ADC 14 March 1981 living
Sir Roden Cutler VC AK KCMG KCVO CBE 7 April 1981 22 February 2002
Sir Garfield Barwick AK, GCMG 8 June 1981 14 July 1997
Sir Charles Court AK, KCMG, OBE 14 June 1982 22 December 2007
Sir Ninian Stephen KG AK GCMG GCVO KBE QC 29 July 1982 living
Sir Roy Wright AK 26 January 1983 28 February 1990
Sir Gordon Jackson AK 13 June 1983 1 June 1991

[edit] The Order of Australia Association

On 26 January 1980 recipients of awards in the Order formed the Order of Australia Association. This organisation seeks to aid the members of the Order in their pursuits related to the development and maintenance of Australia's culture and traditions. The organisation also attempts to increase awareness of those honoured by the Order, since many of their number are not household names, despite their contributions. Branches of the Association can be found in all the states and territories of Australia.

[edit] References

  1. ^ Honours of the Crown p.11

[edit] See also

[edit] Recipient categories

[edit] External links