King’s Birthday honours 2025: Gold Coasters including Baz Luhrmann, Catherine Martin and Ian Cousins receive gongs

Award-winning filmmakers Baz Luhrmann and Catherine Martin lead the pack of Gold Coasters who have received gongs in the annual King’s Birthday honours list. FIND OUT MORE

Award-winning filmmakers Baz Luhrmann and Catherine Martin lead the pack of Gold Coasters who have received gongs in the annual King’s Birthday honours list.

The husband and wife duo, who today call Miami home, have been named Companions of the Order of Australia (AC) in the awards for their services to the arts.

The AC is the highest level of the honours, which will be announced on Monday.

Mr Luhrmann, who has largely lived on the Gold Coast for the past five years and whose Bazmark Productions will be the first tenants of the city’s new post-production facility at Miami, said he was honoured to be recognised.

Baz Luhrmann and Catherine Martin have been given awards in the Kings Birthday honours list (Photo by Dimitrios Kambouris/Getty Images for The Met Museum/Vogue)

“My personal journey from a small, rural town to the world stage would not have been possible but for those who came before having the vision to support the arts, allowing us to reflect our stories back to ourselves and participate in global culture as Australians,” he said.

“Catherine Martin and I feel this honour recognises not just us, but those who have made access to the arts possible for every Australian.”

Ms Martin said receiving the award was “especially meaningful”.

“I am so honoured to be joining the ranks of so many illustrious Australians, whom I have admired and been inspired by,” she said.

“Being recognised in your home country is especially meaningful.”

The couple have largely lived on the Gold Coast in recent years (Photo by Taylor Hill/FilmMagic)

Also receiving an award, posthumously, is Gold Coast media figure Ian Cousins who died in April.

The man, known as ‘Mr Media of the Gold Coast’, received an Order of Australia medal (OAM) for services to the community of the Gold Coast for his decades of work in radio and business.

His widow Brenda, who will accept it on his behalf, said the honour would help keep Mr Cousins “alive” in the memories of those who knew him.

She said Mr Cousins had been told he had been nominated for the award before his April 17 death.

“It’s very touching and it is such a shame that he passed away so recently but this will keep his spirit alive,” she said.

Ian Cousins died in April but was honoured posthumously.

“We are so, so proud of him and he so wanted to be part of the Gold Coast community and was such a passionate advocate for the city so this will be part of his legacy.

“Ian never did things for awards and he always used to see the gold in everything, turning negatives into positives and that isn’t something you can say for a lot of people.

“This will keep him alive and ensure he is not forgotten.”

Wayne McLennan

Robina resident Wayne McLennan received an OAM for decades of service to surf life saving, having begun as a volunteer patrol member in 1962.

Carrara resident William Ross received an OAM for service to veterans and their families and to the community, having served as an honorary solicitor to Gold Coast Legacy and the Surfers Paradise RSL, among many other organisations for more than three decades

Water Skier Brett Wing in 1982

He also is the treasurer of the Burleigh Bears Leagues Club.

Three-time world champion Brett Wing received an OAM for service to barefoot water skiing.

The Coomera resident, who also won eight gold medals at the world championship level, has long been recognised for his key role in the sport.