A heartfelt congratulations to the five APRA AMCOS members who have been recognised in this year’s Australia Day Honours.
Recipients are celebrated for their incredible service to the arts, music, education and their communities.
Yunupiŋu* has been honoured posthumously with a Companion of the Order of Australia (AC) award. Yunupiŋu was a dearly beloved advocate, fearless leader and renowned musician and songwriter, and sadly passed away in 2023.
He has been recognised for his “eminent service to First Nation Peoples, in particular traditional land ownership, to leadership in economic development initiatives, to fostering reconciliation and respect, and as a custodian of culture and ceremony.”
David Briggs from the Little River Band has received a Member of the Order of Australia (AM) honour, for his “significant service to the performing arts as a singer, songwriter and musician.”
Briggs is a musician, songwriter, record producer, recording engineer and lecturer, best known as lead guitarist in the Little River Band between 1976-1981. The band achieved commercial success in both Australia and the United States, selling more than 30 million records.
Their 1977 song "Help is on the Way" reached #1 on the Australian Kent Music Report singles chart, and #14 on the Billboard Hot 100 charts.
Briggs additionally produced for Australian Crawl, and signed No Fixed Address.
"Help Is On Its Way" - Little River Band
Three members, Sukhjit Kaur Khalsa, Paul Begaud and Alan Gilmour received the Medal of the Order of Australia Award (OAM).
Sukhjit Kaur Khalsa is Perth/Boorloo-based writer, performer, theatre-maker, filmmaker, and producer who has been recognised “for her service to the performing arts.”
She has been a finalist in the Australian Poetry Slam and semi-finalist on Australia’s Got Talent, with previous honours including Performing Arts WA Awards, WA Multicultural Awards, and Young Australian Sikh of the Year, to name a few.
Khalsa is the Executive Director of The Blue Room Theatre.
Paul Begaud is a chart-topping songwriter, record producer and singer, who has been recognised “for service to the music industry as a songwriter and producer.”
Begaud has written and produced songs for Delta Goodrem, Tina Arena, Human Nature and more.
His track “Now That I Found You”, performed by Terri Clark reached #1 on US Country charts, and “End of the Line”, performed by UK girl group Honeyz also reached #1 on the UK R&B charts.
Begaud also composed the song "Dare to Dream" for the Sydney Olympic Games Opening Ceremony performed by Olivia Newton-John and John Farnham before a global audience of 4.5 billion.
"Dare to Dream" - Co-written by Paul Begaud, performed by Olivia Newton-John and John Farnham
Alan Gilmour is a broadcaster, musician, singer and songwriter who has been recognised for his “service to the arts, particularly through music.”
A long-serving volunteer broadcaster with the NSW Central Coast’s country music station todayscountry94one, Gilmour was inducted into the Australian Country Music Broadcasters’ Hall of Fame in 2022.
Congratulations again to all honourees. Read the full Australia Day 2025 Honours List here.
*Yunupingu's name and photos have been approved for use by the family. You can read more here: https://gy.yyf.com.au
APRA AMCOS members honoured:
Yunupiŋu
Companion of the Order of Australia - General Division (AC)
For eminent service to First Nation Peoples, in particular traditional land ownership, to leadership in economic development initiatives, to fostering reconciliation and respect, and as a custodian of culture and ceremony
David Briggs/ Little River Band
Member of the Order of Australia (AM)
For significant service to music, and to the performing arts
Paul Begaud
Medal of the Order of Australia (OAM)
For service to the music industry as a songwriter and producer
Alan Gilmour
Medal of the Order of Australia (OAM)
For service to the arts, particularly through music
Sukhjit Kaur Khalsa
Medal of the Order of Australia (OAM)
For service to the performing arts