Keith Urban, Andrew Farriss, Deborah Conway, Tim Minchin, on Australia Day Honours List
Keith Urban, INXS keyboard player and songwriter Andrew Farriss and singer-songwriter/producer Deborah Conway were among those lauded in the January 26 Australia Day Honours List for their contributions to music and charities.
Others also recognised with Order of Australia medals included Tim Minchin, Seaman Dan and Painters & Dockers singer Paul Stewart, as well as arts administrators, media, artist managers, venue operators and festival executives.
Officer (AO) of The Order of Australia
Aside from a high profile recording and performing career, 4 x Grammy winner Keith Urban’s include raising funds for hospitals, the welfare of US country music fans and donating music instruments to the community.
Member (AM) of the Order of Australia
INXS co-founder and songwriter Andrew Farriss, currently working on a solo career in country music, is an advocate of the Nordoff-Robbins Music Therapy Australia and has a residency at the Australian National University School of Music.
Deborah Conway, aside from her music, was also gonged for her past and present roles as chair of the Australia Council’s music of arts practice committee, director of the Shir Madness Jewish Music Festival, artistic director of the Queensland Music Festival and patron of the Australian Women In Music Association.
Musician and actor Tim Minchin’s charity works include being an ambassador of Children and patron of the Arts, Humanists UK and Western Australian Youth Theatre Company.
Henry Gibson “Seaman” Dan, the 90-year old Torres Strait Islander recording artist, performer and pearl diver from North Queensland, also for his contributions to First Nation communities.
Paul Field, managing director of The Wiggles, also wrote and produced tracks for John Fogerty, Kylie Minogue, Lou Diamond Phillips, Slim Dusty, Jimmy Barnes and Kasey Chambers.
Gary Roberts was acknowledged for his “significant service to the broadcast media” including his current role as managing director of 96FM in Perth, and previously as head of Nova 93.7 and Austereo.
Claire Spencer, CEO of Arts Centre Melbourne, is also chair of Arts Wellbeing Collective Advisory Group, was former COO at the Sydney Opera House and member of Live Performance Australia’s executive council
First Nation director and playwright Wesley Enoch is the artistic director of Sydney Festival, member, NSW government’s Arts Advisory Council and head of various theatre groups.
Surfers Paradise cabaret performer and TV personality Carlotta (Carole Spencer) has been a long-term advocate for LGBTIQ rights.
Shane Colouhoun, lecturer in arts management, WA secretary of the Chamber of Arts and Culture, vice chairman of Country Arts WA and executive roles in various theatre groups.
Adelaide publisher of children’s books Jane Covernton was also a board member of the Adelaide College of the Arts, 2010 and heavily involved in the Come Out youth arts festival.
The late Patricia O’Donnell was an avid supporter of live music as the owner of Victoria’s Queenscliff Hotel, the North Fitzroy Star and director of the Abbotsford Convent Foundation which stages rock gigs.
Music lecturer and oboe player Prof. Sharman Pretty is chair of Accessible Arts, chaired the Music Council of Australia and project officer of the Australia Council’s music board.
Julie Steiner, GM/ divisional director of ABC Enterprises and hosted Radio National’s Music Show in the ‘90s.
Medal (OAM) of the Order of Australia
Painters & Dockers/ Transplants singer and one-time music writer Paul Stewart is now project officer of the Jesus Mission and involved in Australia-Timor cultural relations.
Katrina Sedgwick CEO of the Australian Centre for the Moving Image (ACMI) in Melbourne, was head of arts at the ABC, CEO of Adelaide Film Festival, chair of the South Australian Youth Arts board, artistic director of Adelaide Fringe and co-founder of Sydney Fringe
South Australian children’s entertainer and songwriter Peter Combe is also patron of Young Adelaide Voices and Festival Fleurieu.
John Thornton was general manager of Perth’s performing arts Royal Theater
Valerie Dawson is a Queensland singer-songwriter.
Carter Edwardes is the award-winning host of The Carter Edwards Show on 2SM Super Radio Network and variety entertainer.
Linda George, recording artist in the 1970s, turned music educator at various Melbourne schools and colleges.
Mary Kenneally Is a radio, television and theatre actor, singer and writer.
Melbourne singer John St. Peeters (John Lo Piccolo) has been music director for numerous fundraisers.
Radio identity John Pickup presented on the ABC Radio in various states and was the inaugural manager and co-founder of Radio 4CRM Mackay, Queensland.
One time entertainment writer Eric Scott is now playwright in Queensland, and current “mayor” of The Glugs Of Gosh, a monthly meeting of entertainment faces raising money for the Actors and Entertainers Benevolent Fund Queensland.
Kate Torney, radio/TV producer, was director of news at the ABC.
Emma Webb, co-director of Port Adelaide performance and arts development Vitalstatistix, also held roles at Adelaide Fringe and Port Festival.