Source : Perth Now news
A philanthropist who has made significant contributions to medical research, the arts and bettering the lives of children; a professor in mathematics; two former politicians and a senior virologist and infectious diseases expert have been awarded the highest honour in the King’s Birthday Honours list.
Philanthropist Janet Calvert-Jones, former Tasmania premier William Hodgman, Professor William Rawlinson, former Democrats leader Natasha Stott Despoja and mathematician Terence Chi-Shen Tao have been awarded the highest honour, the Companion of the Order of Australia (AC).
They are among 949 recipients recognised this year, including 703 people in the General Division of the Order of Australia. The youngest recipient is Sarah Ward, 34, while at 106, volunteer Florence Drury is the oldest to be acknowledged.
Among those honoured are:
Christine Holgate
Business leader Christine Holgate will be at the pub watching the Magpies as she celebrates her King’s Birthday honour.
The Team Global Express chief executive was made a Member of the Order of Australia (AM) for her significant service to business through a range of executive roles.
“I feel very, very honoured, very humbled, extremely surprised, deeply appreciative and very grateful,” Ms Holgate told NewsWire.
“I’m a diehard Collingwood supporter, so I’m going to be going to a pub to watch the game.”
As one of the nation’s most prominent business leaders, Ms Holgate said she had loved all her jobs in very different ways, no matter how they ended.
Ms Holgate became a household name in 2021 when as former Australia Post chief executive she was criticised by then-Prime Minister Scott Morrison in parliament for gifting Cartier watches to senior executives. An independent investigation later cleared Ms Holgate of any wrongdoing.
Ms Holgate looked back at the controversy as a lesson that had made her stronger.
“If there’s anything you feel a bit conscious about when you get an award for your contribution to business, you’re always slightly self-conscious that a lot of other people worked really hard for you and supported you, which enabled you to achieve those results,” she said.
“I kind of feel that this award is not just my award.”
Ms Holgate said her rise to the top was an unusual journey that began when an old lady helped her when she was working as a waitress at 18 years old.
“She was really the first person who kind of prompted me to do something more and believed in me, probably more than I believed in myself at the time,” she said.
“I also lived in the Caribbean for 3½ half years, and there was a man there called Owen Arthur.
“He was the Prime Minister of Barbados, and I worked with him on a very big project, and he had a massive influence on me about how I looked at things.
“He got me falling in love with cricket, but he taught me the importance of humility because humility was needed in good leadership.
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“He used to say, ‘Leadership is something that’s a privilege, but it’s for a moment of time, and you’re going to spend most of your life without it, so don’t forget what it was like’, which is actually really good, good feedback.
“Even Eddie McGuire, he brought Collingwood into my life and made Australia home.”
But it is the people she works closest with that inspire her every day – from mums and dads running community post offices to passionate staff at the frontline of her companies.
“I’m just a girl who, you know, came from the train station floor, so if anything I just hope in some way being recognised that other people going through a really difficult time can see this and believe their time will pass and they can come through it,” she said.
“When you’ve had nothing it doesn’t really leave you and I think that is a very strong motivation to change things.”
Rove McManus
Rove McManus is relieved he can finally tell the world he’s been made a Member of
the Order of Australia.
The beloved comedian was notified last month that he would receive the prestigious
AM accolade for his services to broadcast media, entertainment, and the community,
but he was sworn to secrecy until the official King’s Birthday Honours List was
unveiled.
While McManus kept the news under wraps from the public, he admits he
couldn’t resist sharing it with his wife, Tasma Walton, and daughter, Ruby, 12.
“As much as there are very stern emails that get sent when you’re on the list about
keeping it a secret, I wasn’t going to keep it from them,” McManus said.
However, he played his cards much closer to his chest with his proud mum, Coralie
McManus – resulting in a classic case of bad timing.
“I told her to keep an eye out on Monday just gone because it was the King’s
Birthday holiday in Perth, only to find out it wasn’t happening until a week later,” he
chuckled.
“So, I was waiting for all these messages that didn’t come, wondering if maybe I had
gotten it all wrong.”
Now that the news is officially out, McManus plans to mark the milestone with a low-
key barbecue in Perth with friends and family.
Although he has several industry peers who have already received honours – including Carrie Bickmore, who was awarded a Medal of the Order of Australia (OAM) back in 2019 – McManus isn’t aware of any special perks that come with the title.
“I would hope that there’s a secret handshake,” he joked.
“Or next time we’re out in public somewhere, and I go to use the toilet, they can tap me on the shoulder and go, ‘No, no, no!’ and take me to the front of the queue.”
While some would argue the honour is long overdue for the three-time Gold Logie
winner, McManus feels the timing is perfect. It coincides with his stand-up
tour, Tonight’s Guest: Rove McManus, which features reflections and archival
footage from his iconic years as a chat show host.
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“I never expected to receive an honour like this, and if I’m being honest, it never
really bothered me whether I did or I didn’t,” he said.
“But it is quite nice to have it especially for what it symbolises as far as a body of
work in your chosen field. What I try to do with my role in television, comedy and
entertainment is make people feel better at the end of the day … whether that’s watching you do stand-up, or at the end of a TV show that you’ve done, or even a
little joke that you’ve told.
“So, to get a pat on the back for that is quite rewarding.”
James Valentine
James Valentine’s nomination for an AM – for significant service to the media as a radio presenter and television host, to music and to children’s literature – evolved out of a witty throwaway remark made at the broadcaster’s “living wake” on St Valentine’s Day in February.
Retired ABC702 drive program host Richard Glover stepped up to address the 180 family and friends who packed Clovelly SLC to “share the love” for the ailing broadcaster and musician who, since 1987, was a fixture on ABC Local radio and television before being diagnosed with terminal cancer in 2023.
At one point an affectionate heckler at the wake suggested, tongue in cheek, the lauded saxophonist “deserved” an Order of Australia for raising the spirits of the city of Sydney.
Australian Governor-General Sam Mostyn, a family friend, happened to be in the room and retorted “Well, I’m here!”
The throwaway line set the ball rolling and while Ms Mostyn would play no part in the nomination process that followed, Valentine’s friends and former colleagues soon took up the cause seriously on behalf of the long time ABC702 afternoons host who was by then in rapidly declining health.
Just as cancer-stricken Midnight Oil drummer and driving force Rob Hirst was presented with his AM in the final days of his life ahead of the Australia Day honour roll ceremony in January, Valentine would receive his on Saturday April 18, four days prior to his death, after the honour was invested to his children Ruby and Roy on his behalf and then conveyed home to dad on the couch.
The broadcaster and musician, 64, had been very much opposed to the award, his wife, Joanne Corrigan, said this week.
“He was opposed to his nomination and was firmly of the view it should go to people who went above and beyond their duty. But then when the children gave it to him, it was like the last moment of sunshine in his brain,” said Ms Corrigan, explaining her husband – who performed with ’80s band the Models, authored books including the Jumpman trilogy, and was committed to fundraising – had been touched that his life’s dedication to “kindness” had been seen as worthy.
“Men get such a bad rap but there are some very kind, gentle and patient men and it is so important to love and value that,” Ms Corrigan said.
Natasha Stott Despoja
Natasha Stott Despoja is a former South Australian senator and gender equality advocate.
She has been awarded the Companion of the Order of Australia (AC) in the General Division for her service to prevention of family violence, gender equity and to the promotion of human rights.
Ms Stott Despoja was the commissioner of the Royal Commission into Domestic, Family and Sexual Violence from 2024 to 2025.
She was re-elected to the United Nations Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW) for 2025-2028 after becoming a member in 2021.
Speaking about her priorities for her second term on the CEDAW, Ms Stott Despoja said she was a lifelong advocate for gender equality.
“I’m dedicated to making the world a better, safer and fairer place for women and girls,” she said.
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“I believe we can shape a future where gender equality is the norm, where women’s rights are respected and are a part of everyday reality and where girls everywhere know their futures are secure and bright.”
Before joining the committee in 2021, Ms Stott Despoja was the Australian ambassador for Women and Girls, furthering Australia’s international gender quality agenda.
“Ms Stott Despoja is a fierce advocate for the progression of women’s human rights and the advancement of women’s representation in decision-making institutions domestically and internationally,” federal Minister for Women Katy Gallagher said.
Ms Stott Despoja was named the founding chair of Our Watch, the national foundation to prevent violence against women and children in July 2013 and was appointed a life patron in August 2022.
She also holds an honorary doctorate from The University of Adelaide was made an Officer of the Order of Australia in 2019.
Janet Calvert-Jones
For Janet Calvert-Jones the greatest reward for helping others is seeing sick and disabled children blossoming in better health, artists creating exceptional works and families enjoying the public gardens she has invested so much of her life in.
It’s these everyday positive influences on lives that has served as her motivation throughout a decades-long commitment to making a difference in the community.
So it is with genuine modesty Mrs Calvert-Jones has greeted the announcement that she is a recipient of the Companion of the Order of Australia (AC), the highest award in the King’s Birthday Honours.
“I would like to say how honoured I am and how humbled I am for this award, I don’t deserve it at all,” she told The Australian.
“I have been so lucky; a very happy childhood with devoted parents, a wonderful marriage with a husband (John Calvert-Jones) who spoils me and looks after me, and four healthy children who inspire me with their activities, and care for me.”
Mrs Calvert-Jones was one of five Australians to be honoured with the AC in the King’s Birthday Honours – which follows her AO in 2006 – in recognition of “eminent service to philanthropy, to the arts, to medical research organisations, to the community, and to children and youth”.
In a special interview with The Australian to mark the occasion, Mrs Calvert-Jones paid tribute to her mother, Dame Elisabeth Murdoch, for instilling in her a sense of duty and purpose.
“My life has been influenced by my mother, greatly, I think,” she said, describing her generosity of spirit as “infectious”.
“She inspired me with her passion, her generosity and her interest in life.
“As I was growing up I could see she was not only giving lots of money to people, but she was also giving support and being interested in others. She always said just as important as giving money was to actually show interest and get involved in that way.
“I think that probably influenced me about how I would try and do things as well. She was an incredible mum.”
The many causes Mrs Calvert-Jones and the Calvert-Jones Foundation have invested so much time and resources in are diverse, spanning health, the arts and public spaces such as the Royal Botanic Garden and Cruden Farm. A golden thread running through all of these has been a focus on enriching the lives of children and youths.
One cause closest to her heart is the Good Friday Appeal. Like Dame Elisabeth,
Mrs Calvert-Jones worked tirelessly to support and promote the annual appeal that has raised more than $517m since 1931.
As chairman of The Herald & Weekly Times from 1989 to 2009, Mrs Calvert-Jones’s commitment to the Good Friday Appeal continued. Since 2013, her daughter, Penny Fowler, has followed in her footsteps being both the chairman of the HWT and the GFA.
“I can’t even express how proud I am of Penny,” she said. “She has got an amazing ability to get involved with people and to us she is the most wonderful daughter.”
The Good Friday Appeal has always been special for Mrs Calvert-Jones.
“We’ve managed to support lots of things and the importance of the Good Friday Appeal has always been there,” she said, noting that the event becomes stronger each year and commands such wide support because it’s all about helping children.
“Everybody has been touched by the Children’s Hospital, whether it is a grandparent or a baby, or a neighbour, it reaches out to everybody,” she said.
“Everybody feels that it belongs to them.”
Mrs Calvert-Jones, the sister of News Corporation chairman emeritus Rupert Murdoch, said she takes great pride from the Murdoch family’s role in founding the Murdoch Children’s Research Institute. She continues to sit on the MCRI Council of Ambassadors and was on the board for 17 years.
“I’ve enjoyed my involvement with the Murdoch Children’s very much,” she said.
“I am very proud that my family got involved. It wasn’t just me, it was mum who … saw a need to start an institute and so she persuaded Rupert and me and my sisters to make a large donation so it could get started.
“I was inspired by the people working there and I was thrilled to get Sarah (Sarah Murdoch, who is married to Lachlan Murdoch, Chair of News Corporation and Executive Chair and Chief Executive Officer of Fox Corporation) there.” Sarah Murdoch has sat on the MCRI board since 2014 and been co-chair since 2021.
Mrs Calvert-Jones played a key role in founding Taralye in 1968, an oral language centre for hearing-impaired children, after her son, James, was left hearing-impaired. “I really enjoyed it so much, I always enjoyed helping others, helping hearing-impaired kids,” she said.
The arts have also been a major focus for Mrs Calvert-Jones, and she has taken a leading role in tapestry, being the chair of the trustees of the Tapestry Foundation of Australia for more than 15 years.
“(The arts) are very important, I got very involved in tapestry, and I think it is so important for the community to have art, whether its tapestry, whether its paintings or drawings,” she said.
“To see the (tapestry) weavers and the artists combining to make these beautiful things is incredible.”
The Calvert-Jones Foundation has also supported numerous other causes and charitable entities including Second Bite, Orange Sky Laundry, the Royal Flying Doctor Service, Melbourne Zoo and the Aboriginal Literacy Foundation
Ensuring younger generations can enjoy open spaces has also been a passion for Mrs Calvert-Jones who has been a benefactor and director at the Royal Botanic Gardens and a trustee of Cruden Farm, her childhood home that is now open to the public.
“I grew up at Cruden farm during the war,” she said.
“Mum wanted it to be kept up for the enjoyment of the public and I think she would be so proud if she could see it now, it is beautiful.”
The nation has rightly recognised the service of Janet Calvert-Jones with the Companion of the Order of Australia on Monday, but in many ways she had already been honoured.
“I’ve been rewarded by everyone enjoying life,” she told The Australian. – Damon Johnston
Edwina McCann
Edwina McCann almost missed the email telling her she would be receiving the Member of the Order of Australia for her service to journalism, arts governance and the fashion industry.
“To receive an email to say that I was to be awarded on Monday was a great honour but a bit of a shock,” she said.
“I’ll actually be in Paris on a work trip, so I’ll probably have a glass of champagne with myself and a colleague and that will be that on Monday.”
McCann is the editorial director of Vogue Australia, Vogue Living and GQ Australia.
She was previously the editor-in chief of Vogue Australia from 2012 and 2022 and
was integral in launching the STEM-focused Vogue Codes event series.
Through her illustrious career at Vogue, McCann said she had met some “extraordinary people from all walks of life”, but one person she particularly admired was Tasmania-born Queen Mary of Denmark, whom she met and photographed.
“It really struck me how much she had taken on and just what an incredibly intelligent wonderful woman she is, and I definitely came home from that trip thinking she is one of those people who makes me want to be my best self every day,” McCann said.
She said she had “an extraordinary team of people around her”, including her family, friends and work colleagues who inspired her.
Along with her busy career, McCann sits on the Museum of Contemporary Art, St Joseph’s College Foundation and the Australian Rugby Foundation boards.
She also has a passion for Australian ballet having been a member of the Global Ambassador Network since 2021 and serving as chair of the Australian Ballet Foundation from 2017-2020.
McCann said her commitments outside of work allowed her to work with new people and be involved in things she enjoyed that were completely different to fashion.
“I think it’s very important to never be in a bubble, just constantly be curious and give wherever you can,” she said.
McCann was named in B & T’s 30 Most Powerful Women in Australian Media in 2015 and has received a lifetime achievement award from the Australian Fashion Laureate in 2018 for her significant and ongoing contribution to the fashion industry.
Katie Allen
Former federal Liberal MP Katie Allen will receive the Officer of the Order of Australia (AO) posthumously for her service to medical research in pediatric allergies and gastroenterology and for her service to the people and parliament.
Dr Allen’s husband Malcolm Allen said despite his wife’s seven different careers across her lifetime, her greatest accomplishment was her family.
“Her biggest achievement in her eyes was that she was a mother first and brought up a loving family,” Mr Allen told NewsWire.
The couple met at the Melbourne Cup almost 40 years ago, with Mr Allen saying it was “love at first sight” and “we were together ever since”.
Dr Allen, who represented the now abolished seat of Higgins in Victoria from 2019 to 2022, died last year from a rare form of cancer known as cholangiocarcinoma.
Mr Allen said his family would “definitely be doing something to celebrate” Dr Allen’s honour as she always brought everyone together and would want a big celebration.
“We are known for having big parties in our house and we’re extremely grateful for everyone who’s been a part of Katie’s life and helped her get her achievements and get this award,” he said.
During her time in parliament, Dr Allen was one of five MPs to cross the floor and vote with Labor to extend stronger anti-discrimination protections to transgender students and staff in amendments to the religious discrimination Bill in 2022.
Mr Allen said his wife was one to research important topics as she “was very much evidence based” and liked to lead with empathy before judgment.
“She was someone of great integrity, it wasn’t simply that she was following the party line,” he said.
Prior to entering parliament, Dr Allen was a chief scientist for the Australian Food Allergy Foundation between 2016 and 2019 and was director from 2014 to 2019.
She pioneered liver cell transplants and her research reshaped the understanding, prevention and treatment of childhood food allergy.
Despite her varied careers and commitments, Mr Allen said his late wife would “find time” to see anyone who wanted to speak to her because to her “busyness was really just a mental state”.
Mr Allen said his wife mentored a lot of women and school students seeking professional careers, regardless of what type of career it was.
“There was always people turning up at our house for tea with Katie,” he said.
“She had this thing called the Cake and Eat It Club and she’s kind of a pioneer of a new generation of women who could both be a loving wife and a loving mother and have a career.”
Fran Kelly
After decades at the forefront of Australian journalism, Fran Kelly has been recognised with an Officer of the Order of Australia, an honour the legendary broadcaster said left her feeling “really chuffed” and completely surprised.
Kelly was bestowed the second highest award in the King’s Birthday Honours in recognition of her stellar journalism career and advocacy work across social justice, equality and the LGBTQIA+ community.
“I’ve asked a few people over in the morning just to think, ‘Wow, this is good’, and to thank some of those people who were instrumental in my career,” Kelly said.
“That is people I’ve worked with, particularly at RN Breakfast for all those years.”
Kelly joined the ABC in 1990 and spent 17 years hosting breakfast radio, starting her day with a 3am alarm.
She said a few people at the national broadcaster had a really big impact on her career, including Helen Thomas and the “late great Paul Murphy”.
“I learned a lot from (Paul) about interviewing just by being around him,” she said.
“He wasn’t an active mentor, but he was just so natural, such a great listener, so empathetic, so intelligent, and so prepped for every interview,
“That the sort of standard that I set myself.
“I saw it in action and I’ve tried to sort of maintain that through my career.”
Outside of her career, Kelly has been a fierce advocate for social justice and equality, saying, “Why wouldn’t you want to work towards that?”
“Every Australian really wants to work towards that, and I’m no different,” she said.
“When I decided that I was interested in journalism, and I managed to get a job, which was a little later in my life, that’s what I wanted to do.
“I wanted to just contribute if I could to the national discussion and conversations on big issues and help people understand more broadly so that we enlarge as a nation rather than shrink inward.”
