Australia Day Honours 2020: Brown, Griggs, Overton, Minchin.

Noeline Brown, Hugo Weaving, Johanna Griggs, Peter Overton, Carlotta, Rachel Griffiths and Tim Minchin are amongst recipients of the Australia Day Honours 2020.

Also honoured are Jane Turner, Robert Penfold, Heather Mitchell, Caroline O’Connor, Paul Mercurio and Neighbours star Georgie Stone -at 19 the youngest of all honourees.

Veteran Noeline Brown (pictured top left), much-loved to Australians through The Naked Vicar Show, Blankety Blanks and theatre, received a Medal of the Order of Australia for service to the performing arts as an actor and entertainer.

“It was a great surprise, and a thrill. I’m very, very honoured,” she told TV Tonight on learning of her accolade.

“My family will be over the moon when they hear about this. And my little great nieces. When I was an ambassador they used to almost curtsy!

“One of the loveliest jobs I ever had was chairing the Actors Benevolent Fund. It was a completely non-paid job for everyone on the board, of course, but it was marvellous to be able to use one’s so called ‘celebrity’ for the good of other people.”

Brown was also an Ambassador for the Ageing.

“It was initially for a Labor government and then was taken on by the Liberal government, so it was 3 years working for both governments, which was really good.”

Brown, who last performed in the stage tour of Mother & Son alongside actor Darren Gilshenan, is a previous recipient of the Actors Equity Lifetime Achievement Award. She plans on celebrating her honour with close friends today.

“We’ll be having ‘la-a-a-amb’ for Australia Day!” she joked.

“I’m certainly waiting by the phone for my next job, like all actors! I’ve written a couple of books, which keeps me active as well. And like everybody else I have a very active life in the community.”

Better Homes & Gardens host Johanna Griggs also becomes a Member of the Order of Australia for significant service to community health, to television, and to sport.
“I’m so chuffed and humbled by the nod. It’s not the sort of thing you expect or go looking for… but to be acknowledged for doing things you love is really special,” she told TV Tonight.

“I decided when I started out in media, following my swimming career almost 28 years ago, that if I ever had a platform or profile that’s I’d try and use it for good.

“Over the years I’ve been lucky to work closely with a lot of different charities and organisations that I still work with, but the work I do with Beyond Blue is by far what I’m proudest of. I’ve been a director if the board for several years now, and am the Chair for the ‘Be You’ National Advisory Council.”

Griggs says the national Mental Health Initiative has been furiously busy these past few weeks adapting a specific program both for Bushfire Affected areas.

“So I’m ridiculously excited about the AM, and can’t wait for what will be a big 2020… with a huge year planned for Better Homes and Gardens and hosting my 7th Olympics and 2nd Paralympic Games.”

Nine News presenter Peter Overton was made an Officer of the Order of Australia for significant service to the broadcast media, and to the community.

“It’s such an honour to be included and a lovely surprise but the recognition belongs to the charities that I have worked with over the past 30 years,” he said.

“I was brought up to always contribute to the community and my charity work continues to enrich my life.”

Nine News boss Darren Wick said of Peter Overton & Robert Penfold, “At Nine, we are delighted for Peter and Rob and their families and immensely proud of the recognition they have received today.

“We’re privileged to have worked alongside them as colleagues and grown to know them as genuine people of true character. What I mean by character is the moral and mental strength they exhibit in demonstrating their personalities. It’s essentially the way they show up to work every day and the way they present themselves.

“Pete and Rob are two of the most decent blokes you’ll ever meet. They’re also two of the best news professionals Australian journalism has ever seen.”

Here are the TV and related honours:

Officer of the Order of Australia (AO)

Ian Healy
For distinguished service to cricket at the national and international level as a player, to the broadcast media, and to the community.

Hugo Weaving
For distinguished service to the performing arts as an actor, and as a mentor of young writers, directors and film makers.

Member of the Order of Australia (AM)

Bettina Arndt
For significant service to the community as a social commentator, and to gender equity through advocacy for men.

Paul Field
For significant service to the arts, particularly to children’s entertainment, and as a supporter of charitable endeavours.

Johanna Griggs
For significant service to community health, to television, and to sport.

Rachel Griffiths
For significant service to the performing arts as an actor.

Gael Jennings
For significant service to science, and to the broadcast media.

Rachel Maza
For significant service to the performing arts as an artistic director

Kate McClymont
For significant service to the print media, and to investigative journalism.

Tim Minchin
For significant service to the performing arts, and to the community.

Peter Overton
For significant service to the broadcast media, and to the community.

Robert Penfold
For significant service to the broadcast media, and to journalism.

Paul Mercurio
For significant service to the performing arts, particularly to dance.

Heather Mitchell
For significant service to the performing arts, and to the community.

Caroline O’Connor
For significant service to the performing arts, particularly to musical theatre.

Carol “Carlotta” Spencer
For significant service to the performing arts, and to the LGBTIQ community.

Medal of the Order of Australia (OAM)

Noeline Brown
For service to the performing arts as an actor and entertainer.

Peter Combe
For service to the performing arts, particularly music for children.

Maude Davey
For service to the performing arts, particularly as an artistic director.

John Lo Piccolo (John St. Peeters)
For service to the performing arts.

Mary Kenneally
For service to the performing arts.

John McCoy
For service to the broadcast media, and to the community.

Kate Mulvany
For service to the performing arts.

Katrina Sedgwick
For service to performing, screen, and visual arts administration

Georgie Stone
For service to the trans and gender diverse community

Kate Torney
For service to the broadcast media, and to the cultural sector.

Jane Turner
For service to the performing arts as a writer, actor and comedian.

Also honoured were music stars Deborah Conway, Glenn Shorrock, Andrew Farris, Keith Urban and Paul Stewart.