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Maggie Beer, Jamie Durie in Honours Roll.

Updated: Maggie Beer, Jamie Durie, Gus Mercurio and producer Oscar Whitbread are all recognised on Australia Day.

Celebrity cook Maggie Beer, AM, has been recognised in today’s Australia Day Honours.

She was appointed a Member of the Order of Australia for her service to the tourism and hospitality industries as a cook, restaurateur and author, as well as for her promotion of Australian produce and cuisine.

”It just takes your breath away when you think about how many people are out there doing great things,” she said. ”You think, ‘Why am I the one to get it?’ I feel equal measures of excitement and embarrassment.”

“There are so many unsung heroes out there,” she said.

“The more I know of people, I hear so many amazing stories of people’s strength in such adversity.

“So the award is embarrassing on one side and a cause for huge pride on the other.”

Jamie Durie was awarded a Medal (OAM) in the General Division for service to the community as an ambassador and supporter of a range of charitable and environmental organisations, and as a landscape designer.

Durie has worked with charities such as Plan International.

Congrats to both.

Updated: The late Gus Mercurio is also posthumously awarded a Medal of the Order of Australia, for service to boxing as an administrator and sports commentator, as a film, television and stage actor, and to the community.

Veteran producer Oscar Whitbread (I Can Jump Puddles, Rush, Power Without Glory, Bellbird) is awarded a Medal of the Order of Australia for service to the Australian film and television industry.

Source: The Age, Adelaide Now

7 Responses

  1. Maggie – you rock! Be proud, not embarrassed: you deserve it, and more. Now go and celebrate with some verjuice-soaked game, sage and burnt butter sauce followed by quince and peach tart with triple cream! Enjoy!

  2. Another TV name honoured this year, producer Oscar Whitbread – worked at the ABC for many years including shows Bellbird, Power Without Glory and I Can Jump Puddles.

    Also later on Crawford productions The Flying Doctors, Acropolis Now and Cluedo.

  3. Like “Australian of the Year” just reminds me how meaningless these “awards” have become. As she says ““There are so many unsung heroes out there. The more I know of people, I hear so many amazing stories of people’s strength in such adversity. So the award is embarrassing”.
    She should get an award for honesty.

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