Barry Humphries honoured with highest Order of Australia accolade on King’s Birthday Honours list
Humphries was one of six recipients of the highest accolade, with former Labor minister Jenny Macklin and former Premier of Western Australia Colin Barrett also receiving the top honour.
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Australian comedy icon Barry Humphries to be honoured with Sydney state funeral
Iconic Australian entertainer Barry Humphries has died, aged 89
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The entertainer, best known for his character Dame Edna, was not the only Australian comedian amongst the recipients, with comedy duo Judith Lucy and Denise Scott both being granted the honour of Member of the Order of Australia.
Prior to his passing in late April 2023, Humphries had been previously honoured as an Officer of the Order of Australia in 1982, with the comedian also receiving the honour of Commander of the Order of the British Empire in 2007.
The King’s Birthday Honours list is also representative of another notable milestone, with the 2023 cohort of recipients being represented by over 50% women for the first time since the Order of Australia was established in 1975.
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“Reaching gender parity in the Order is a major milestone. While we should take a moment to acknowledge the significance of this achievement, it is not cause for pause,” said Governor-General David Hurley.
The news of Humphries’ honour comes just over two weeks since Prime Minister Anthony Albanese confirmed the details for Humphries’ State Memorial, which will be occurring on December 15, 2023 at the Sydney Opera House.
“Barry Humphries was a much-loved Australian and a huge loss to the arts community,” Mr Albanese said previously, adding “The Australian Government is pleased to work with the New South Wales Government to deliver a State Memorial to honour the life and legacy of this beloved entertainer.”
