A HISTORY OF HONOURS IN AUSTRALIA – By Harry de Sayrah  OAM  J.P ( Life Member of the Order of Australia Association)   Each year of Australia Day and Queen’s Birthday come the announcements of the latest appointments to the Order of Australia Since the Order of Australia was created in February 1975 new awards have been announced on Australia Day in January and on the Queen’s Birthday in June but the tradition of a January honours listed has existed since much earlier. Before 1975 Australians were eligible for British honours which were announced each January and June at New Year and on the King’s or Queen’s official Birthday The number of Australians honoured increased considerably in the 20th Century after the Order of the British Empire (OBE) was created in 1917 as an instrument for rewarding many people who had contributed to the War effort during WW1. Importantly the new order ...

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