Comedians Jimmy Rees & Hamish Blake receive OAMs for King’s Birthday

Comedians Jimmy Rees and Hamish Blake are among the faces from TV recognised in our latest batch of national honours recipients. See the full list.

A funny thing happened to the King’s Birthday Honours list, with comedians Jimmy Rees and Hamish Blake both awarded the Medal of the Order of Australia (OAM).

Rees, who shot to fame in the ABC kids’ show Giggle and Hoot, said the recognition was a “tremendous honour” but when contacted by the Governor-General’s office with an invitation to get in touch, he thought: “This can’t be right. This is a scam.”

The 36 year old is a cross-platform success, combining TV appearances, live shows (he’s currently touring regional centres) and his own online content.

A short-form video that bombs can be as “brutal” as playing a room full of three people, Rees said, but there have been plenty of big hits: his skit “The Guy Who Decides Packaging” has so far racked up a “pretty crazy” 30 million views.

“It seemed like the world could relate,” he said.

Australian entertainer Jimmy Rees. Picture: Supplied

Hamish Blake. Picture: Nigel Wright

Online content has changed the traditional career trajectory for stand-ups, Rees said.

“You put your observations out there on the internet and people will follow you there. Then when you decide to go out on the road, you’ve kind of skipped the traditional version of becoming a comedian, which is to go to work at mic nights and getting on different bills in different gigs. So it’s 100 per cent different,” he said.

Hamish Blake also crosses platforms – just different ones to Rees – with a prime time TV hosting gig (Lego Masters), podcasts, books and radio shows to his name.

The 42 year old said he was “of course extremely honoured” by the OAM, but “now feel very guilty I didn’t even get the King a birthday present”.

Sandy Roberts pictured at the MCG. Picture: David Caird

Other recipients from the world of arts and entertainment included Powderfinger bassist John Collins, who was made an AM, author Robyn Davidson and sports commentator Sandy Roberts, both of whom were awarded the OAM.

In 2022 Roberts revealed he was battling myeloma, a form of blood cancer, but this week said his health was “very good”.

“I’m in remission and hopefully that will continue,” the 74 year old said.

The news of the OAM was an “absolute shock” but he was “very humbled”.

He nominated the Moscow Olympic Games in 1980 as a career highlight, and Gary Ablett Sr as one of the most exciting athletes he ever got to witness live.

“I didn’t go to the football to see Geelong, I went to see Gary Ablett,” he said.

The upcoming Paris Olympics will be a time to reminisce, but without regret, it would seem.

“I covered 11 Olympic Games. I had my time over a very long period so I’m happy to see younger people coming through and to watch their careers grow,” Roberts said.