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(Redirected from Officer of the Order of Australia)
The 'Order of Australia' is an order of chivalry established by Elizabeth II on February 14, 1975 "for the purpose of according recognition to Australian citizens and other persons for achievement or for meritorious service". The Order is divided into general and military divisions, with the following grades in descending order of seniority:
★ 'Knight' or 'Dame' (AK or AD; not awarded since 1986)
★ 'Companion' (AC)
★ 'Officer' (AO)
★ 'Member' (AM)
★ 'Medal of the Order of Australia' (OAM).
The Order was established by the Queen of Australia by Letters Patent on February 14, 1975. Before the establishment of the Order, Australian citizens received British honours. The original Order only had three grades: Companion, Officer and Member.
On May 24 1976, the Queen as Queen of Australia signed Letters Patent, countersigned by then Australian Prime Minister Malcolm Fraser, with a schedule making provision for a further category of membership as Knight or Dame, and for a Medal of the Order of Australia.
The award of AK and AD was discontinued in the late 1980s by the Australian Labor Party Government. On March 3, 1986 in Canberra the Queen of Australia signed Letters Patent, countersigned by then Australian Prime Minister Bob Hawke, with a schedule revoking the category of Knight or Dame. Existing Knights and Dames were not affected by the change in Letters Patent. The Prince of Wales is a Knight of the Order of Australia.
The Queen of Australia is Sovereign of the Order while the Governor-General of Australia is Principal Companion and Chancellor of the Order.
The Order of Australia is modelled closely upon the Order of Canada. However, when compared with the Order of Canada, the Order of Australia has been awarded rather more liberally, especially in regard to honorary awards for foreigners. While the Order of Canada has only been awarded to twelve non-Canadians to date, the Order of Australia is more often awarded to non-Australians.
The Order formerly consisted of four grades and a medal, in both ''general'' and ''military'' divisions. Knighthood of the Order was made in the general division only.
The different grades of the Order are awarded according to the recipients' level of achievement:
;Companion: for eminent achievement and merit of the highest degree in service to Australia or to humanity at large.
;Officer: for distinguished service of a high degree to Australia or to humanity at large.
;Member: for service in a particular locality or field of activity or to a particular group.
;Medal of the Order of Australia: for service worthy of particular recognition
Any person may nominate any Australian citizen for an award. The nominations are reviewed by the Order of Australia Council, independent of any political interference, and then approved by the Governor-General. The Order is awarded twice annually: on Australia Day, and on the Queen's Birthday public holiday in June, when public announcements are made about new awards.
Appointments to the Order are not made posthumously; however, if a nominee dies after accepting an appointment but before the relevant announcement date, the appointment still stands and it is announced as having effect from the date of the nominee's death.
The ''badge'' of the Order of Australia is a disc (gold for ACs, gilt for AOs, AMs and OAMs) representing the Golden Wattle flower. At the centre is a ring, representing the sea, with the word 'Australia' below two branches of golden wattle. The whole disc is topped by the Royal crown of St Edward. The AC badge is decorated with citrines, blue enamelled ring, and enamelled crown. The AO badge is similar, without the citrines. For the AM badge only the crown is enamelled, and the OAM badge is plain.
The ''star'' for knights and dames is a convex golden disc decorated with citrines, with a blue royally crowned inner disc bearing an image of the Coat of Arms of Australia.
_ribbon.png)
The ''ribbon'' of the Order is blue with a central stripe of golden wattle flower designs; that of the military division has additional golden edge stripes. Male ACs and AOs wear their badges on a necklet; male AMs and OAMs wear them on a ribbon on the left chest. Women usually wear their badges on a bow on the left shoulder, although they may wear the same insignia as males if so desired. hi
The Order's insignia were designed by Stuart Devlin.
:''For a full list of all fourteen Knights and Dames of the Order, see Orders, decorations, and medals of Australia#Classes''
★ 'Sovereign': HM The Queen
★ 'Knights':
★
★ Sir Zelman Cowen AK GCMG GCVO QC (8 December 1977)
★
★ HRH The Prince of Wales KG KT GCB OM AK QSO PC ADC (14 March 1981)
★
★ Sir Charles Court AK KCMG OBE (12 June 1982)
★
★ Sir Ninian Stephen KG AK GCMG GCVO KBE (29 July 1982)
★ 'Officials':
★
★ Chancellor and Principal Companion: Major-General Michael Jeffery AC CVO MC (Governor-General of Australia)
★
★ Secretary: Malcolm Hazell CVO (Official Secretary to the Governor-General of Australia)
On 26 January 1980 recipients of awards in the Order formed the ''Order of Australia Association''. This organisation seeks to aid the members of the Order in their pursuits related to the development and maintenance of Australia's culture and traditions. The organisation also attempts to increase awareness of those honoured by the Order, since many of their number are not household names, despite their contributions. Branches of the Association can be found in all the states and territories of Australia.
★ Australian campaign medals
★ Australian Honours System
★ Australian Honours Order of Precedence
★ British and Commonwealth orders and decorations
★ Order of Canada
★ Order of New Zealand
★ Bunyip aristocracy, a term coined in relation to the attempt to introduce a hereditary peerage system into New South Wales in the 1850s. As a result of the popular reaction to the proposed introduction of this form of colonial honours, it took many years before an Australian honours system was created.
★ Companions of the Order of Australia
★
★
★
★
★
★
★ Australian Honours Secretariat
★ Order of Australia including list of the Order, its history and its "Constitution" (statutes).
★ Order of Australia Association
★ ODM of Australia -- has images of insignia, including Knight's insignia
Insignia of a Companion of the Order of Australia.
★ 'Knight' or 'Dame' (AK or AD; not awarded since 1986)
★ 'Companion' (AC)
★ 'Officer' (AO)
★ 'Member' (AM)
★ 'Medal of the Order of Australia' (OAM).
| Contents |
| History |
| Appointment |
| Insignia |
| Knights and officials of the Order |
| The Order of Australia Association |
| See also |
| Recipient categories |
| External links |
History
The Order was established by the Queen of Australia by Letters Patent on February 14, 1975. Before the establishment of the Order, Australian citizens received British honours. The original Order only had three grades: Companion, Officer and Member.
On May 24 1976, the Queen as Queen of Australia signed Letters Patent, countersigned by then Australian Prime Minister Malcolm Fraser, with a schedule making provision for a further category of membership as Knight or Dame, and for a Medal of the Order of Australia.
The award of AK and AD was discontinued in the late 1980s by the Australian Labor Party Government. On March 3, 1986 in Canberra the Queen of Australia signed Letters Patent, countersigned by then Australian Prime Minister Bob Hawke, with a schedule revoking the category of Knight or Dame. Existing Knights and Dames were not affected by the change in Letters Patent. The Prince of Wales is a Knight of the Order of Australia.
The Queen of Australia is Sovereign of the Order while the Governor-General of Australia is Principal Companion and Chancellor of the Order.
The Order of Australia is modelled closely upon the Order of Canada. However, when compared with the Order of Canada, the Order of Australia has been awarded rather more liberally, especially in regard to honorary awards for foreigners. While the Order of Canada has only been awarded to twelve non-Canadians to date, the Order of Australia is more often awarded to non-Australians.
Appointment
The Order formerly consisted of four grades and a medal, in both ''general'' and ''military'' divisions. Knighthood of the Order was made in the general division only.
The different grades of the Order are awarded according to the recipients' level of achievement:
;Companion: for eminent achievement and merit of the highest degree in service to Australia or to humanity at large.
;Officer: for distinguished service of a high degree to Australia or to humanity at large.
;Member: for service in a particular locality or field of activity or to a particular group.
;Medal of the Order of Australia: for service worthy of particular recognition
Any person may nominate any Australian citizen for an award. The nominations are reviewed by the Order of Australia Council, independent of any political interference, and then approved by the Governor-General. The Order is awarded twice annually: on Australia Day, and on the Queen's Birthday public holiday in June, when public announcements are made about new awards.
Appointments to the Order are not made posthumously; however, if a nominee dies after accepting an appointment but before the relevant announcement date, the appointment still stands and it is announced as having effect from the date of the nominee's death.
Insignia
The ''badge'' of the Order of Australia is a disc (gold for ACs, gilt for AOs, AMs and OAMs) representing the Golden Wattle flower. At the centre is a ring, representing the sea, with the word 'Australia' below two branches of golden wattle. The whole disc is topped by the Royal crown of St Edward. The AC badge is decorated with citrines, blue enamelled ring, and enamelled crown. The AO badge is similar, without the citrines. For the AM badge only the crown is enamelled, and the OAM badge is plain.
The ''star'' for knights and dames is a convex golden disc decorated with citrines, with a blue royally crowned inner disc bearing an image of the Coat of Arms of Australia.
Civil Division ribbon
_ribbon.png)
Military Division ribbon
The ''ribbon'' of the Order is blue with a central stripe of golden wattle flower designs; that of the military division has additional golden edge stripes. Male ACs and AOs wear their badges on a necklet; male AMs and OAMs wear them on a ribbon on the left chest. Women usually wear their badges on a bow on the left shoulder, although they may wear the same insignia as males if so desired. hi
The Order's insignia were designed by Stuart Devlin.
Knights and officials of the Order
:''For a full list of all fourteen Knights and Dames of the Order, see Orders, decorations, and medals of Australia#Classes''
★ 'Sovereign': HM The Queen
★ 'Knights':
★
★ Sir Zelman Cowen AK GCMG GCVO QC (8 December 1977)
★
★ HRH The Prince of Wales KG KT GCB OM AK QSO PC ADC (14 March 1981)
★
★ Sir Charles Court AK KCMG OBE (12 June 1982)
★
★ Sir Ninian Stephen KG AK GCMG GCVO KBE (29 July 1982)
★ 'Officials':
★
★ Chancellor and Principal Companion: Major-General Michael Jeffery AC CVO MC (Governor-General of Australia)
★
★ Secretary: Malcolm Hazell CVO (Official Secretary to the Governor-General of Australia)
The Order of Australia Association
On 26 January 1980 recipients of awards in the Order formed the ''Order of Australia Association''. This organisation seeks to aid the members of the Order in their pursuits related to the development and maintenance of Australia's culture and traditions. The organisation also attempts to increase awareness of those honoured by the Order, since many of their number are not household names, despite their contributions. Branches of the Association can be found in all the states and territories of Australia.
See also
★ Australian campaign medals
★ Australian Honours System
★ Australian Honours Order of Precedence
★ British and Commonwealth orders and decorations
★ Order of Canada
★ Order of New Zealand
★ Bunyip aristocracy, a term coined in relation to the attempt to introduce a hereditary peerage system into New South Wales in the 1850s. As a result of the popular reaction to the proposed introduction of this form of colonial honours, it took many years before an Australian honours system was created.
Recipient categories
★ Companions of the Order of Australia
★
★
★
★
★
★
External links
★ Australian Honours Secretariat
★ Order of Australia including list of the Order, its history and its "Constitution" (statutes).
★ Order of Australia Association
★ ODM of Australia -- has images of insignia, including Knight's insignia
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