Australia Day Honours 2023: Archie Roach, Claudia Karvan, David Wenham, Kylie Kwong among celebrated Aussies
Australians have reacted to the 2023 Australia Day Honours List. See full list of honorees, take our poll and have your say.
National
Don't miss out on the headlines from National. Followed categories will be added to My News.
Archie Roach’s powerful voice and the indelible beauty and pain of his songs continue to strike at Australia’s heart as the late songwriter and elder leads the roll of 1047 people recognised in the 2023 Australia Day Honours.
The revered musician, whose signature song Took The Children Away educated wider Australia about the heartbreaking plight and enduring trauma suffered by the Stolen Generation, was made a Companion of the Order (AC) in this year’s list, one of the highest honours.
The artist’s friend, manager and CEO of his foundation Jill Shelton said the honour was “bittersweet” in the wake of Roach’s passing but he would have humbly received it.
She said the “deep thinker” had carefully considered accepting his AM in 2015.
“Archie would be humbled (but) it is a complex award. When he was nominated for the Order of Australia many years ago, he gave it a lot of thought and agreed to accept the award back then as an acknowledgment of his work … and on behalf of his people,” she said.
“Archie was an extraordinary Australian, with an incredible story for this country, which he sang with integrity and dignity; it wasn’t always easy but his resilience shone through.
“Music saved him, and his legacy via the Foundation will help young First Nations artists be the best they can be.”
Another celebrated storyteller, actor Claudia Karvan, said being awarded the OAM reflects the integral role our film and television industry play in preserving the Australian identity.
“We are very lucky as an industry to have government support. This has come in many different forms over the decades and waxed and waned, but the government understands that telling our unique stories is important and integral to our society,” Karvan said.
“Creative fulfilment for me comes in many forms – being in the position to be able to empower other talented professionals, working with writers, working collaboratively.
“I am fully cognisant of how fortunate I am to have a vital, unpredictable job which continually shapeshifts and keeps me on my toes.”
A handful of her peers were among the Australia Day honours roll including actor David Wenham, comedian and writer Jean Kittson, filmmaker Phillip Noyce, who made Newsfront and Rabbit Proof Fence, and Bruna Papandrea, the Australian producer powerhouse behind the hit series Big Little Lies, Nine Perfect Strangers and The Undoing.
The risk-takers who have put everything on the line to stage stadium pop extravaganzas or the biggest musicals in the world also loomed large among this year’s recipients.
The list of honorees has divided public opinion.
“I think we’re starting to run out of Australians that deserve this honour….,” said one News Corp reader.
Another quizzed: “Why do people get awards for doing their job?”
Others did not believe celebrities should receive the accolade.
“Why the hell do actors get one??,” a News Corp reader asked.
After more than two years of struggling to keep the Australian live entertainment industry afloat during the pandemic shutdowns, promoters including Paul Dainty and Michael Cassel were awarded in recognition of their dogged determination to get the show back on the road.
As Cassel juggled the season openings of Hamilton in Brisbane and Mary Poppins in Melbourne next week, Dainty was gearing up for the return of Darren Hayes to Australian stages and celebrating the success of the Guns N’ Roses stadium tour in late 2022.
Dainty said, like his fellow producers, he is a workaholic who relished being able to get back to staging big gigs after the long pandemic pause.
“It has been exhilarating to get back to work and you do feel like you are making a contribution by bringing these live experiences to people,” Dainty said.
“When I was standing in the middle of a stadium watching Gunners go through their sound check, that’s when it hit me just how much I love doing these big shows and just how much we all missed them.”
Another respected music industry luminary on this year’s list is Terry Blamey, the manager who was instrumental in taking Kylie Minogue from Neighbours to command the pop charts.
The pair moved to London – Blamey was based there for 30 years – to capitalise on the momentum of her popularity in the UK courtesy of the Australian soap.
“A lot of people don’t realise that first album also went gold in America,” the proud music man said.
“Her success in music was so instantaneous, despite how hard it can be for pop artists because pop music is seen as fleeting, and our goal was to make sure she had a long career on her terms and that was hard work.”
They started as partners in her first restaurant Billy Kwong more than two decades ago so there was a note of serendipity truck by Australian chefs and television personalities Kylie Kwong and Bill Granger both figuring in the 2023 honours.
Among the other high profile recipients of Australia Day honours are ABC health commentator Dr Norman Swan, musical theatre star and intimacy coach Chloe Dallimore and television and radio legend Steve Liebmann.
NRL OAMS
The man taking on the $1 billion NRL juggernaut and a rugby league icon have been recognised for their services to the game.
Rugby League Players’ Association chief Clint Newton and Dally M Medal winner Preston Campbell have been awarded Order of Australia Merits.
The honours come on the back of decades of involvement in rugby league.
Newton, 41, forged a 173-game NRL career with Newcastle, Melbourne and Penrith from 2001-15 and also spent four years in the middle of that playing in England.
The son of late Australian golf legend Jack Newton, Clint is now one of the biggest figures in the NRL since retiring and becoming head of the players’ union.
He is currently locked in a fierce battle with the NRL – including powerful chairman Peter V’landys – as he negotiates a new collective bargaining agreement for the players.
Newton said he was honoured to receive an OAM but acknowledged the controversy of Australia Day celebrations.
“From a personal perspective, I’m really grateful that people have seen different things I’ve done over a number of year as worthwhile and something to acknowledge,” he said.
“It’s never what you set out to achieve. I’m passionate about rugby league and community initiatives.
“It’s great for my family, particularly given my mum and dad have both received the same recognition.
“However, I am fully aware of the day and how there’s some real difficulties for many people, particularly when it comes to celebrating.
“We’ve got to give our empathetic support for our First Nations people and understand how this day impacts them. I’m paying my respects to that.
“While it’s something I’m incredibly proud to receive, I also know that receiving it on a day like today has a number of challenges for our First Nations people and indigenous community. I’ve got to respect that.”
Campbell, 45, received his OAM for services to indigenous youth and rugby league.
A co-creator of the Indigenous All Stars concept, Campbell has been a stoic advocate of supporting young indigenous people and working in community programs.
He also had a stellar playing career, collecting the 2001 Dally M Medal as the NRL’s best player while with Cronulla and playing in Penrith’s 2003 premiership team.
Campbell helped launch the Gold Coast Titans in 2007 as the club’s first signing, and finished his career in 2001 with 267 first grade appearances.
His son Jayden is now playing for the Titans, with Campbell heavily involved in league and community circles on the Gold Coast.
– additional reporting Travis Meyn
Originally published as Australia Day Honours 2023: Archie Roach, Claudia Karvan, David Wenham, Kylie Kwong among celebrated Aussies
Join the conversation
Huge cash boost for millions of Aussies
More than five million Aussies will get an increase to their fortnightly payments as of Friday – with some now set to pocket up to $41.50 every two weeks.
Read more
Cocaine Cassie reveals huge next move
Cassie Sainsbury, who served three years in a Columbian jail after being caught with 5.8kg of cocaine, has revealed a massive “secret” to her 31.5k+ Instagram followers.
Read more