Aussie Musicians, Radio Stars, Festival Promoters Make 2022 Queen’s Birthday Honours List

The June 13 Queen’s Birthday Honours list had its share of entertainment figures, with most receiving the Medal (OAM) of the Order of Australia.

Vika Bull and Linda Bull individually received theirs for careers that included solo projects, playing with Black Sorrows, Paul Kelly, and ROCKwiz Orkestra as well as TV presenter roles in Pacific Stories and charity work.

The honour came days after Frontier Touring delayed the sisters’ tour to August after Vika was rushed to hospital for emergency surgery.

Country music singer-songwriter and multi-instrumentalist Beccy Cole received her medal months after being inducted into the Roll Of Renown (Hall of Fame) at Tamworth.

She was venerated for her support of the LGBTQI+ community, expanding the Australian country music brand to the mainstream, and performing for Australian troops in Iraq and the Middle East.

Melbourne jazz pianist Joe Chindamo, with 23 solo albums under his belt and numerous collaborations with quartets and orchestras, also took his career abroad to prestigious venues.

Jazz and cabaret singer Libby O’Donovan won the 2022 Icon Award at the Adelaide Cabaret Festival where she performed at each year since its inception 22 years.

Musicians and radio presenters Greg Champion and Billy Baxter received their medals as part of the sports radio comedy group Coodabeen Champions, alongside Andy Bellairs, Ian Cover, Jeff Richardson and Jeffrey McGee.

Simon Whelan returned after a 10-year break during which he was a Supreme Court judge.

NSW-based Alexander Bell founded 2AIRFM, presented country music shows on the ABC and was inducted into the Broadcasters Hall of Fame and the Australian Country Music Hall of Fame.

Marilyn Bennet co-owns 88fm Castlemaine, founded MainFM 94.9 and ran country music agency Bendigo Entertainment Company.

Giuseppe Cavuoto is an honorary life member of Adelaide’s Italiana 831 AM after serving as a volunteer for 46 years, a committee member for 30 years and vice-president.

Dorothy West, based in Broome, WA, runs First Nations media and communication Goolarri Media and Broome Aboriginal Media Association, also serving as radio station manager and network manager for a time.

Country music singer Florence Forbes is a presenter and administrator at 106.7 Phoenix FM and Triple C FM Bendigo, and was an inductee of the Australian Country Music Broadcasters Hall of Fame in 2017.

Amber Hasler was a long-time administrator at Perth Fringe World including acting CEO in 2019 and festival director from 2013 to 2021, and also served on the Chamber of Arts and Culture WA board and program manager of ArtRage.

Christopher Latham served as festival director of Canberra International Music Festival, festival coordinator at Wollongong City Council, artistic director of the Australian Festival of Chamber Music and is currently music director at the Australian War Memorial.

Dorothy Danta was president and vice president of the Canberra International Music Festival for 20 years.

Among her many administrative roles in music, literature and dance bodies, the late Christine Sharp was general manager of Sydney Festival from 2000-2003.

Nicholas Heyward who became Member (AM) of the Order of Australia, chaired the Confederation of Australian International Arts Festivals, was director of Hobart’s Theatre Royal management board, was a member of the Tasmanian Chamber Music Festival and chaired Arts Tasmania’s advisory board.