More than 700 Australians have been recognised in the Australia Day 2023 honours list. A number of prominent figures in music, film and theatre have been recognised for their work.

The Gunditjmara, Bundjalung Senior Elder, songman and storyteller Archie Roach has been posthumously appointed as a Companion of the Order of Australia for his service to the performing arts and to Indigenous rights and reconciliation. His best-known song, Took the Children Away came to represent the experience for Australia’s generations of stolen children.

Gunditjmara, Bundjalung Senior Elder, songman and storyteller Archie Roach. Photo Wikimedia Commons

Film director Phillip Noyce has been made an Officer of the Order of Australia for his work in film over more than 50 years. Born in Griffiths, NSW, Noyce has directed almost 20 feature films, including Dead Calm (his Hollywood breakthrough), The Quiet American, Clear and Present Danger and Bone Collector. He described his 2002 film Rabbit-Proof Fence as his proudest achievement as a filmmaker.

David Wenham has been awarded the Medal of the Order of Australia (OAM) for his contribution as a screen actor and producer, as has actor Claudia Karvan (for her service to the film...