Knights and Dames
The category of Knight (AK) or Dame (AD) of the Order was created by Letters Patent issued by Elizabeth II, Queen of Australia on 24 May 1976 on advice from the Fraser Liberal-National government and was discontinued by her on 3 March 1986 on controversial advice from the Hawke Labor government. (The Australian Labor Party does not support the awarding of titles.). Existing knights and dames were not affected by the removal of the category from the Letters Patent.
During this period, twelve knights and two dames were created, of whom ten of the knights and both of the dames are now deceased.
The following is a complete list of the knights and dames of the Order of Australia, shown in order of appointment. Living knights are shown in bold:
| Name | Known for | Date of appointment | Date of death | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sir John Kerr | Governor-General 1974-77 | 24 May 1976 | 24 March 1991 | |
| Sir Robert Menzies | Prime Minister 1939-41, 1949-66 | 7 June 1976 | 15 May 1978 | |
| Sir Colin Syme | Industrialist | 6 June 1977 | 19 January 1986 | |
| Sir Zelman Cowen | Governor-General 1977-82 | 8 December 1977 | 8 December 2011 | |
| Sir MacFarlane Burnet | Immunologist, Nobel laureate | 26 January 1978 | 31 August 1985 | |
| Dame Alexandra Hasluck | Historian | 6 June 1978 | 18 June 1993 | |
| Dame Enid Lyons | Politician | 26 January 1980 | 2 September 1981 | |
| HRH The Prince of Wales | Royalty, Heir apparent | 14 March 1981 | living (age 64) | |
| Sir Roden Cutler | Soldier, Governor of New South Wales 1966-81 | 7 April 1981 | 22 February 2002 | |
| Sir Garfield Barwick | Chief Justice of Australia 1964-81 | 8 June 1981 | 14 July 1997 | |
| Sir Charles Court | Premier of Western Australia 1974-82 | 14 June 1982 | 22 December 2007 | |
| Sir Ninian Stephen | High Court Judge, Governor-General 1982-89 | 29 July 1982 | living (age 89) | |
| Sir Roy Wright | Physiologist | 26 January 1983 | 28 February 1990 | |
| Sir Gordon Jackson | Industrialist | 13 June 1983 | 1 June 1991 |
Read more about this topic: Order Of Australia
Famous quotes containing the words knights and/or dames:
“The threadbare trees, so poor and thin,
They are no wealthier than I;
But with as brave a core within
They rear their boughs to the October sky.
Poor knights they are which bravely wait
The charge of Winter’s cavalry,
Keeping a simple Roman state,
Discumbered of their Persian luxury.”
—Henry David Thoreau (1817–1862)
““Justice” was done, and the President of the Immortals, in Æschylean phrase, had ended his sport with Tess. And the d’Urberville knights and dames slept on in their tombs unknowing. The two speechless gazers bent themselves down to the earth, as if in prayer, and remained thus a long time, absolutely motionless: the flag continued to wave silently. As soon as they had strength they arose, joined hands again, and went on.
The End”
—Thomas Hardy (1840–1928)