Cathy Freeman, Annastacia Palaszczuk, Rob Hirst lead Australia Day honours list

Midnight Oil drummer Rob Hirst has been recognised in this year’s Australia Day honours, alongside nearly a thousand others, including household names such as Cathy Freeman, scientists, doctors, politicians and everyday Aussies making a difference in their communities.

“The qualities and accomplishments of this year’s honorees reflect Australia’s values for

service, community, kindness, curiosity, tenacity, and care,” Governor-General Sam Mostyn said in announcing the recipients on Sunday night.

“Congratulations to everyone recognised in the Australia Day 2026 honours list.

“As the list so vividly showcases, so many Australians to give the best of themselves across many endeavours, in the interest of others.”

A total of 949 honours were announced – 200 more than in last year’s Australia Day list. They included awards in the Order of Australia (General and Military Divisions), meritorious awards and recognition for distinguished and conspicuous service.

In addition to the 680 recipients of awards in the General Division of the Order of Australia (10 AC, 38 AO, 160 AM and 472 OAM), the honours list includes 269 military recipients of awards.

Rob Hirst – AM

Beloved Midnight Oil drummer Rob Hirst knew of his recognition in the Australia Day Honours list before his death at 70 on January 20, after an almost three-year battle with pancreatic cancer.

His family, led by wife Lesley Holland and daughters, Lexi, Gabriella and Jay, paid tribute to heir adored father and husband as he was made a Member of the Order of Australia (AM).

“Our beloved father and husband receiving this honour feels particularly poignant this week,” the family said.

“Rob was a ferocious talent and we’re so proud of the impact of his songwriting, music and advocacy.

“The outpouring of love this past few days has kept us afloat in this turbulent moment – we know so many are grieving alongside us.

“Rob loved this Great South Land, and dreamt of a day when we could heal through Makarrata and get on with the urgent work of caring for Country together. The time has come.

The avalanche of posts sharing grief and respect, adoration and love for Hirst, on the social media feeds of his millions of fans and friends in the wake of his death, upheld the truth of the formidable footprint he has left on Australia’s cultural landscape.

His musical legacy is monumental, his immense talent as a songwriter enshrined not only on the national treasure that is the Midnight Oil catalogue, but his myriad collaborations – Ghostwriters, Backsliders, The Break and Angry Tradesmen.

There were also recordings with his Oils bandmate Jim Moginie and Hamish Stuart in a trio that produced two EPs, an album with Brisbane singer songwriter and writer Sean Sennett, and songs with his daughters.

Almost every post paying tribute to Hirst over the past week celebrated how his music was inseparable from his indefatigable advocacy – for Australia’s reconciliation with its First Nations people, the protection of its land and sky and oceans, and holding those denying or betraying the rights of humanity to account.

Annastacia Palaszczuk – AC

Former Queensland premier Annastacia Palaszczuk has become the latest Covid-era leader to be awarded the country’s highest civilian honour.

Ms Palaszczuk, who has retired from politics, is one of 10 Australians to be appointed a Companion of the Order of Australia – an AC.

She was honoured for her contributions to the state’s parliament and her handling of the Covid-19 pandemic.

Ms Palaszczuk’s response to the pandemic drew controversy, as did other leaders as Australians faced extended lockdowns and other restrictions on their daily lives for months.

Her decision to shut the state’s borders, as per the advice of the chief health officer, even split her own party, at one stage, Ms Palaszczuk said at the time.

Just two years ago former Victorian premier Daniel Andrews drew major controversy after he was honoured with an AC in the King’s Birthday list. Former WA premier Mark McGowan has also been made an AC.

Former prime minister Scott Morrison was awarded an AC last year for his leadership during the pandemic.

Aside from leading the state between 2015 and 2023, Ms Palaszczuk racked up a lengthy portfolio across the government and Labor Party.

First elected as the Member for Inala in 2006, Ms Palaszczuk later served in several ministries, before becoming leader of the opposition after Labor was decimated at the 2012 election.

She then led Labor back into government in a stunning victory at the 1015 election.

She also won Women and Leadership Australia’s Award for Excellence in Women’s Leadership in 2016, and an International Leadership Award from the Biotechnology innovation Organisation in 2018.

She currently sits on the board of Australia Post.

Cathy Freeman – AC

The legacy of Australia’s golden girl is continuing to grow.

Aussie icon Cathy Freeman has been awarded the nation’s highest civilian honour, by being made a Companion of the Order of Australia.

The 52-year-old was born in Mackay in Queensland and sprinted onto the radar of high-level coaches at the age of 17.

She overcame the challenges in front of a young Indigenous female athlete trying to push her way to the top level.

Freeman won Australian hearts when she collected gold in the 400m at the Sydney Olympics in 2000.

Australia held its breath for 49.11 seconds as Freeman became the second Aboriginal Olympic champion and the first to do it in an individual event.

Off the track and part of Freeman’s recognised impact has been her committed service to the community as a role model to women and Indigenous Australians.

She set up the Cathy Freeman Foundation, which works to improve the educational opportunities to those in remote Indigenous communities, and was the director for 14 years.

Freeman’s other accolades include an induction into the Australian Sport Hall of Fame in 2005 and later earning legend status in 2011.

The immortalisation of Freeman grew stronger in 2023 when she was recognised with a statue out the front of Accor Stadium in Sydney – the venue she won gold.

Mark Hughes – OAM

When Mark Hughes lay in a hospital bed 13 years ago, he never dreamt it would set him on a course which has seen his foundation raise more than $40m for brain cancer research.

To many in the Hunter Region, Hughes is a beloved rugby league star having played in the Newcastle Knights’ 1997 and 2001 grand final wins.

But it is in the battle against brain cancer that Hughes has left his biggest mark.

On Sunday, he was recognised with a Medal of the Order of Australia for his services to the community through charity, in particular the Mark Hughes Foundation.

In July 2013, his life was turned upside down when he was diagnosed with brain cancer and underwent surgery to remove an avocado sized tumour.

He underwent months of chemotherapy and radiation treatment, and to date there has been no regrowth of the tumour.

His health battle was the catalyst for Hughes and his wife Kirralee to establish the Mark Hughes Foundation to raise money for the underfunded brain cancer research sector.

“It’s an incredible journey and it’s not one I’ve done by myself,” he told NewsWire this week.

He described his wife Kirralee as a “tower of strength” and thanked the volunteers who drive his charities through hosting bike rides, treks and events, and the thousands of people who have bought his foundation’s beanie as part of the annual NRL Beanie for Brain Cancer Round.

“I don’t get this award without the amazing support the community has given to the Mark Hughes Foundation, without the NRL coming on board with Beanie for Brain Cancer Round,” he said.

His foundation has raised more than $40m and funded research projects, including the Mark Hughes Foundation Centre for Brain Cancer Research at the University of Newcastle.

The foundation’s big turning point came when it partnered with the NRL for the Beanie for Brain Cancer Round, which is going into its 10th year in 2026 and has seen over one million beanies sold.

The round was the brainchild of Nine executive producer Matt Callander, who lost his battle with brain cancer in 2017.

Asked about his hope of finding a cure, Hughes says: “I’m very hopeful.”

“The clock is ticking for so many – we want answers fast and we’re doing our best to get that answer, so there’s hope for brain cancer patients when they’re diagnosed, so they can get better treatment, get better remedies and eventually a cure,” he said.

“Until then we’ll continue to fight.”

Carolyn Creswell – OAM

When Carolyn Creswell was working part-time in a local muesli shop, she would have never thought it would lead to her running a $170m Australian food industry juggernaut.

The entrepreneur has been awarded a Medal of the Order of Australia in the General Division for her work in the food industry that has spanned more than three decades.

Starting out as an employee that feared losing her job when her boss closed the company became a $1000 investment to buy the business herself before rebranding it Carman’s.

“It’s amazing where life can lead you. One day I was told that I was to lose my job as the business was to be sold,” she wrote on the company’s website.

“I immediately thought you could buy this little business! You love the muesli and you make it already!”

But Ms Creswell was anything but an overnight success, grinding with minimal staff until she gained enough traction to be sold at a major supermarket chain.

From there her illustrious career saw her named Ernst & Young’s Young Entrepreneur of the Year in 2007 and Telstra Australia Businesswoman of the Year in 2012, cementing her status as one of the country’s most successful business leaders.

Creswell became a television personality with Network Ten, following a role as an expert in the Recipe to Riches reality program as well as appearances on The Project and Studio Ten.

But far from being satisfied with company success, Ms Creswell turned to social causes and advocacy roles.

This included board positions with the Human Rights Law Centre, the Stephanie Alexander Kitchen Garden Foundation and the Victorian Equal Opportunity and Human Rights Commission.

She currently serves as an ambassador for the Asylum Seekers Resource Centre, Breast Cancer Network Australia, and Create Impact Ethiopia, while also sharing her business expertise on television programs including Recipe to Riches, The Project, and Studio Ten.

‘Cause for concern’ in 2026 honours

The Council of the Order of Australia issued a warning after the awards were announced, noting the gender balance for 2026 honours recipients was strongly skewed towards men.

680 Australians were recognised in the Order of Australia in the 2026 Australia Day Honours list, the highest number since 2024, and the Council noted an equal gender balance between those awarded the Companion of the Order of Australia, the nation’s highest honour.

“However, the gender balance of this year’s honours list more broadly is both a cause for concern and, the Council hopes, a prompt for community action.”

Honours can only be awarded to those nominated, and a Council spokesman said over the years, “many more” nominations are made for men.

“There is no doubt there are as many outstanding women contributing to our communities as there are men – the fact an equal number of women and men have been appointed Companions of the Order in this list underlines that,” the spokesman said.

“The Council would like to see this balance reflected across all nominations and, therefore, outcomes at all levels of award. We need Australians nominating outstanding women for recognition.”