Welcome and News
Australia Day 2012 Honours List
The Australia Day 2012 Honours List was announced on Thursday 26 January 2012 by the Governor-General. The Honours list provides national and formal recognition for approximately 690 Australians across the nation who have made a significant difference to their communities. To check for recipients, you can access the Honours List by selecting any one of the following options:
• View the list of awardees and accompanying media notes on the Governor-General’s website.
• View the list of awardees in the Commonwealth of Australia Special Gazettes on the Attorney-General’s website.
A search of awardees at Search Australian Honours on this website will be available at a later date.
Note: Media inquiries should be directed to the Honours and Awards Secretariat, Government House, Canberra, on (02) 6283 3604.
National Emergency Medal
The Prime Minister, The Hon Julia Gillard MP, presented the inaugural National Emergency Medals on 26 and 27 January 2012 in Canberra, ACT and Flowerdale, Victoria. “We award these medals to a group of Australians who inspired us with their courage and service during two of the most devastating summers of natural disaster Australia has ever witnessed” she said.
The National Emergency Medal is an operational service medal which recognises significant or sustained service to others in a nationally significant emergency, for example, the bushfires in Victoria in 2009 and the floods and cyclones in Queensland in 2010 and 2011. The Medal was established by Her Majesty The Queen by Letters Patent and National Emergency Medal Regulations 2011, approved by The Queen on her visit to Australia in October 2011. For more information view the Governor-General’s website.
Australian National Flag
The Australian National Flag was first flown in Melbourne in 1901. For over a century now it has been the primary expression of Australian identity and pride.
You can receive immediate advice on how to fly the flag on special occasions by registering for the Commonwealth Flag Network alert.
Australian National Anthem
The Australian National Anthem, proclaimed in 1984, identifies Australia at home and overseas. It unites the nation and is a public expression of joy and pride in being Australian.
The anthem is used at important public ceremonies, sporting and community events. The words of the Australian National Anthem are available for download on this site.