Australia’s newest national treasures recognised in 2017 Queens Birthday Honours

OUR finest leaders, entertainers, researchers, sports stars and local heroes have one thing in common with Hollywood star Cate Blanchett — they’ve all been celebrated in today’s Queen’s Birthday Honours.

Actor Cate Blanchett is among hundreds of people celebrated in this year’s Queen’s Birthday Honours. Picture: Ian Gavan/Getty Images

THE nation’s finest leaders, entertainers, researchers, sports stars and local heroes are celebrated for their work and public duty in today’s Queen’s Birthday Honours.

Hollywood star Cate Blanchett, Melbourne Lord Mayor Robert Doyle and veteran businessman Jacques Nasser are among 15 Australians to be receive the nation’s highest honour — the Companion of the Order of Australia (AC).

Melbourne Lord Mayor Robert Doyle ‘astonished’ by elite award and pays tribute to family

Patti Newton recognised for entertaining Victorians with an AM honour

Two-time Oscar winner Cate Blanchett named in Queen’s Birthday honour list

Lawyer Bernie Balmer awarded OAM for services to boxing

SEE THE FULL LIST OF HONOURS IN TODAY’S HERALD Sun

Other recipients from Victoria include economist professor Ross Garnaut, philanthropist John Gandel, Bali 9 lawyer Julian McMahon, and Walter and Eliza Hall medical researcher Professor Peter Colman.

Qantas boss Alan Joyce is also an AC recipient as is Penfolds winemaker Peter Gago from the Barossa Valley.

Actor Cate Blanchett is among hundreds of people celebrated in this year’s Queen’s Birthday Honours. Picture: Ian Gavan/Getty Images

Prominent Victorians Patti Newton, comedy writer Mike McColl Jones and former Test cricket leg-spinner Jim Higgs were also saluted for excellence in their respective fields.

Among the sports stars included in the honours list is Tony “Tippy” Marchant, of Aspendale, who at age 18 won the gold medal with Ian Browne in the 2000m tandem cycle race at the Melbourne Olympics in 1956.

High-profile members of the state’s arts and entertainment community were acclaimed also. Promoter Michael Coppel, conductor and director Greg Hocking, art historian and author Frank van Straten and Palace Cinemas founder Antonio Zeccola were all rewarded with an AM for decades of service.

BHP chairman Jacques Nasser and his achievements will also be recognised today.

Grassroots champions have also been recognised. Ray Morgan from Hastings who, after a 35-year career with Victoria Police, has become a tireless campaigner to raise awareness about dementia.

Mr Morgan said helping out was the Aussie thing to do.

“Australia is very much a country of mates. We look after each other,” he said.

“Since I was diagnosed, I have found the support that I have received has been amazing.”

Professor Garnaut has excelled in the field of economics and international relations including being a ministerial adviser but also produced the landmark Garnaut Report into climate change in 2007-08.

He is currently professorial research fellow in economics at the University of Melbourne.

Patti Newton, pictured with husband Bert, has been honoured with an AM. Picture: Alex Coppel

Mr Nasser, who came to Australia with his parents from Lebanon as a four-year-old in 1951, became one of the nation’s highest-profile business executives making his mark at Ford over decades including being chief executive.

BHP chairman since 2010, Mr Nasser also funds scholarship programs including the Jacques Nasser Scholarship in Entrepreneurship at RMIT University.

Governor-General Sir Peter Cosgrove paid tribute to today’s recipients.

“We are fortunate as a community to have so many outstanding people willing to dedicate themselves to the betterment of our nation,’’ he said.

Almost 50,000 Australians have been recognised for their endeavours since the awards were created in 1975.

BY THE NUMBERS

673 in the General Division of the Order of Australia:

• 15 Companions (AC)

• 55 Officers (AO)

• 171 Members (AM)

• 428 Medals (OAM)

• 4 honorary awards in the general division

• 467 men

• 206 women

• 189 meritorious and military awards

SEE THE FULL LIST OF HONOURS IN TODAY’S HERALD Sun

@IanRoyall