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; 1976-1986)
- Companion (AC)
- Officer (AO)
- Member (AM)
- Medal of the Order of Australia (OAM; from 1976).
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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.
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. 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.
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.
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). |
Officials of the Order
- Sovereign of the Order: HM The Queen
- Chancellor and Principal Companion: Major-General Michael Jeffery AC CVO MC (Governor-General of Australia)
- Secretary: Malcolm Hazell CVO (Official Secretary to the Governor-General of Australia)
Knights and Dames
Twelve men were made Knight (AK) and two women were made Dame (AD) of the order. Both Dames and nine of the Knights have died. The three living Knights are, in alphabetical order:
- HRH Prince Charles, The Prince of Wales KG KT GCB OM AK QSO PC ADC
- Sir Zelman Cowen AK GCMG GCVO QC
- Sir Ninian Stephen KG AK GCMG GCVO KBE.
The Knights and Dames of the order, in order of appointment, are:
| Name | Date of Appointment | Date of Death |
|---|---|---|
| Sir John Kerr | 24 May 1976 | 24 March 1991 |
| Sir Robert Menzies | 7 June 1976 | 15 May 1978 |
| Sir Colin Syme | 6 June 1977 | 1986 |
| Sir Zelman Cowen | 8 December 1977 | living |
| Sir MacFarlane Burnet | 26 January 1978 | 31 August 1985 |
| Dame Alexandra Hasluck | 6 June 1978 | 18 June 1993 |
| Dame Enid Lyons | 26 January 1980 | 2 September 1981 |
| HRH Prince Charles, The Prince of Wales | 14 March 1981 | living |
| Sir Roden Cutler | 7 April 1981 | 22 February 2002 |
| Sir Garfield Barwick | 8 June 1981 | 14 July 1997 |
| Sir Charles Court | 14 June 1982 | 22 December 2007 |
| Sir Ninian Stephen | 29 July 1982 | living |
| Sir Roy Wright | 26 January 1983 | 28 February 1990 |
| Sir Gordon Jackson | 13 June 1983 | 1 June 1991 |
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.
See also
- Australian campaign medals
- Australian Honours System
- Australian Honours Order of Precedence
- British and Commonwealth orders and decorations
- Order of Canada
- Order of New Zealand
- Bunyip aristocracy, a term coined in relation to the attempt to introduce a hereditary peerage system into New South Wales in the 1850s. As a result of the popular reaction to the proposed introduction of this form of colonial honours, it took many years before an Australian honours system was created.
Recipient categories
- Companions of the Order of Australia
- Category:Dames of the Order of Australia
- Category:Knights of the Order of Australia
- Category:Companions of the Order of Australia
- Category:Officers of the Order of Australia
- Category:Members of the Order of Australia
- Category:Recipients of the Order of Australia Medal
External links
- Australian Honours Secretariat
- Order of Australia including list of the Order, its history and its "Constitution" (statutes).
- Order of Australia Association
- ODM of Australia -- has images of insignia, including Knight's insignia
