Arts and entertainment industry figures acknowledged in Queen's Birthday Honours

A range of prominent entertainment industry figures have been rewarded in the 2017 Queen's Birthday Honours list including actor Cate Blanchett, Qantas Chief Executive Alan Joyce, arts administrator Michael Lynch and music promoters Michael Coppel and Paul Dainty.

Blanchett, Joyce and Melbourne Lord Mayor Robert Doyle were named Companions (AC) of the Order of Australia.

Lynch and Bangarra​ Dance Theatre Director Stephen Page were made Officers (AO) of the Order of Australia.

Music promoters Coppel and Dainty, were named Members (AM) in the General Division for their service to the entertainment industry, along with Palace Cinemas founder Antonio Zeccola and the Sydney Symphony Orchestra's former concertmaster Dene Olding.

In sport, the late Bernard 'Midget' Farrelly (the 1964 world surfboard champion) and yachtsman Syd Fischer also received AMs.

A number of figures in the arts and sport were also regognised with Medals (OAM) of the Order of Australia. These included:

Athletics – Marjorie McNamara (Queensland), Gareth Saunders (Queensland)
Boxing – Bernard Balmer (VIC)
Cricket – Kenneth Dixon (Queensland), Harold French (SA), John Gannon (WA), John Hammer (VIC), Jim Higgs (VIC), Thomas Lowrey (SA), Geoffrey Reilly (also AFL) (VIC), Harry Wooding (NSW)
Cycling – Anthony ‘Tony’ Marchant (VIC), David Sanders (VIC)
Disabilty sport – John Cornaggia (SA), Wendy Green (Queensland), Craig Jarvis (NSW), Donald Worley (SA)
Football – late Wayne Broadbent (NSW), Gregory Redington (Queensland), Joe Tripodi (SA)
Golf – Frank Phillips (NSW), Susan Shea (TAS)
Gymnastics – Allen Cullen (NSW)
Hockey – Claire Barnes (VIC), Susan Briggs (NSW)
Horse racing – Colin Hodges (NSW)
Lawn bowls – Malcolm Dempsey (WA), Helen Hogan (Queensland)
Masters sport – Margaret McLean (VIC)
Netball – Leslie Smith (NSW)
Olympics – Leon Gregory (SA)
Performing arts - Peter Coad (NSW), Paul Dellit (Queensland)
Recreation – Gary Carr (TAS), William Dowson (NSW), Daniel Goulburn (NSW), John Smith (NSW)
Rowing – Dr David Coles (ACT) (and medicine), late John Ellings (TAS)
Rugby league – John Anderson (NSW), Paul Broughton (Queensland), David Sharpe (ACT), Dallas Sinclair (NSW), Warren Smith (NSW)
Rugby union – Peter Veenstra (NSW)
Sailing – Norman Fettell (VIC), late Roger Hickman (NSW), Richard Tighe (NSW)
Shooting sports – Kelvyn Prescott (SA), Nick Sullivan (SA)
Skiing – Peter Wachtel (NSW)
Snooker – Desmond Turner (NSW)
Sports administration – Ian Robilliard (NSW)
Squash – Dawn Moggach (NSW)
Surf life saving – Rodney Austin (NSW), Peter James (NSW), Grant McMah (NSW), Peter Pearce (NSW), John Worrell (VIC)
Swimming – Peter Hall (NSW), Morgan Murphy (VIC), Karen Stephenson (nee Moras) (NSW), Graham Towle (NSW)
Wrestling – John Kinsela (NSW)

If we have missed someone in the industry who was recognised in the Australia Day honours please contact leisure@ausleisure.com.au to advise. 

15th March 2017 - MICHAEL COPPEL NAMED CHAIRMAN OF LIVE NATION AUSTRALIA AND NEW ZEALAND 

26th January 2017 - AUSTRALIA DAY HONOURS AWARD INDUSTRY FIGURES 

4th July 2016 - TEG ACQUIRES TOURING BUSINESS OF VETERAN PROMOTER PAUL DAINTY

10th March 2016 - ARTS LEADER LYNCH LABELS FEDERAL GOVERNMENT’S ARTS POLICY AS A DISGRACE

28th January 2016 - LIFE SAVING LEADERS RECOGNISED BY AUSTRALIA DAY HONOURS

26th January 2016 - ROD LAVER, GRAHAM FORD AND DAVID GALLOP RECOGNISED IN AUSTRALIAN DAY HONOURS

26th January 2016 - CULTURAL FIGURES AND PHILANTHROPISTS RECOGNISED IN AUSTRALIA DAY HONOURS 

22nd November 2010 - CELEBRATING SOUTH AUSTRALIAN SPORTING SUCCESS