24 identities were given an Order of Australia Medal (OAM) for their contributions to music, radio, songwriting and festivals at last Friday’s Honours List.
They were:
Alan Evers-Buckland
He was lauded for championing new talent through his role as long time promoter and venue operator (he headed the Save The Palace campaign and court case), and now manages singer songwriter Abbey Stone, media’s Gavin Wood and Grammy-winning US musician Charlie Musselwhite for Aust/NZ.
Evers-Buckland also served as community radio presenter, record producer, music journalist, publicist, champion of First Nations music and a director of Victorian Rock Foundation in the late 80s.
He was also lauded for his high ranking role in life saving associations. “No one really knew I was leaving gigs at 4am and heading straight to my volunteer lifeguard shifts,” he said.
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Chris Murphy
The late INXS manager not only took them to the top in the ‘80s with 50 million album sales but returned in the 2000s to revive their catalogue with inclusion in streaming, movies and an INXS TV mini-series triggering 4 billion streams.
A tough negotiator, he was a booking agent as a teenager and introduced the door deal, and contributed to the music biz by setting up Rhinoceros Studios and Petrol Records.
Kath Letch
The former station manager at Melbourne’s 3RRR-FM and Perth’s RTRFM 92.1 was president of the Community Broadcasting Association of Australia, managed its Digital Radio Project and chaired its consultative committee.
Milly Petriella
Much admired among emerging and established songwriters due to her long time role as director of Member Relations and Partnerships at APRA AMCOS, she founded the SongHubs Competition, and the fund raiser founder of the Vanda and Young International Song Competition.
She was also director of the Nordoff-Robbins Music Therapy Australia and used her energy and contacts to help country music, new talent and Support Act.
Danny Burgess
The one time drummer of ‘60s bands Throb and the Masters Apprentices went on to be chairman of the Australian Songwriters Association, patron of the Association of Artist Managers, board member of the Music Managers Forum, director of the Australian Songwriters Official National Group, and still found time to run various NSW rugby clubs.
Heather Croall
After the award winning film maker took over as director and CEO of Adelaide Fringe, ticket sales doubled to 1 million last year due to her accessible and inclusive programming and digital transformation of its ticketing system.
Rodney Barnes
Saxplayer who co-owned Barnes Music in Newcastle, founded the Dungeon Jazz Club and co-founded Adamstown Arts.
Matthew Fargher
He is music director and composer for Tasmanian stage productions as Cut The Sky, Buru, Burning Daylight and Mimi.
Bronwyn Edinger
Her accomplishments include GM of Arts on Tour NSW, board member of Theatre Royal Hobart, committee Member of Playing Australia, co-founder of the Performing Arts Touring Alliance and CEO of Sunshine Coast Events Centre.
John Foreman
Piano player is the music director to-go-to for everything from Australian Idol and Logies to Carols By Candlelight, mentor to young talent, and Program Ambassador for Music Count Us In at the Australian Music Association.
Frank Avis
Various radio gigs at Triple M, 2-DAY FM, 3AK, 3DB, 6PR and 3MP and lecturer at the Australian Film, Television and Radio School.
Max Lambert
Musical director and composer for the 2000 Sydney Olympics.
Jane Haley
CEO of Tasmania’s Ten Days on the Island festival, CEO of the Australia Business Arts Foundation, executive director at Art Access Victoria, GM of Arts Council ACT, and senior policy advisor for Victorian Minister for the Arts.
Denise Hylands
Long time Triple R Melbourne host including The Selection Show and currently Twang.
Colin Krycer
Long time LGBTI+ advocate was a presenter on JOY 94.9 FM and audio-visual tech forevents as Living Positive, Melbourne Rainbow Band and Melbourne Gay and Lesbian Chorus.
Nick Polites
Long time multicultural advocate was curator of music memorabilia at the Australian Jazz Museum and volunteer at PBS 106.7FM.
Fiona Bamford-Bracher
Presenter of Triple R’s morning and drive time shows, Dj’d as MC Fee BG-Squared and question compiler for Rock Qwiz for five seasons.
Colin Mitchell
Set designer for the Melbourne International Comedy Festival since 1979.
Adele Schonhardt
co-founder and co-director of the Australian Digital Concert Hall and had various roles at 3MBS Fine Music Melbourne.
Jay Turner
Queensland singer songwriter, guitarist and percussionist who writes, produces and performs in various stage productions.
Craig Bennett
Queensland based entertainment reporter (Studio 10) and charity fund raiser, who wrote the books True Confessions Of A Shameless Gossip and That’s Quite a Dress You Almost Have On.
Florence Tafadzwa Mauwa
A rights activist for women and the African community, she is part of the African Music and Cultural Festival team.
Catherine Mundy
Queensland-based songwriter and singer, and co-writer, co-arranger and co-music director at numerous stage music productions.
Mary Tobin
Owner and theatre produce of the Last Laugh Theatre Restaurant, in Melbourne’s Collingwood, Tobin served as presenter at Melbourne International Comedy Festival; Adelaide Fringe; Perth’s Fringe World; Sydney Comedy Festival; Brisbane Powerhouse Comedy Festival, Perth Comedy Festival, Edinburgh Fringe Festival and New Zealand International Comedy Festival.
Read the full list here.
