Angus Houston and Prince Philip awarded Knight of the Order of Australia

Updated

Former Defence Force chief Angus Houston and Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh, have been named as Australia's next knights.

Prime Minister Tony Abbott announced Queen Elizabeth II accepted his recommendation that both men be awarded the country's top honour.

But the decision to knight the Duke of Edinburgh has been criticised by republicans, with former Western Australia premier Geoff Gallop calling the decision a "sad reflection" on Australia.

Sir Angus, a retired Air Chief Marshal, said he was surprised and humbled by the honour.

"I am still Angus Houston and most of the things I've been involved in have involved leadership, but I would be very quick to say that it's the people I've worked with that have delivered the outcomes that have been achieved," he said.

He said his new title was a great honour but admitted he would prefer people continued to refer to him by his first name only.

"I was very comfortable with who I am and what I am," he said.

"It's a great honour to be recognised in this way but I'd like people to still call me Angus."

In a statement, Mr Abbott praised Sir Angus for the continued commitment he had shown in serving Australia in various roles since finishing up as head of Defence.

Those roles included investigating the disappearance of Malaysia Airlines flight MH370 and the shooting down of MH17 over Ukraine.

Sorry, this video has expired Video: Sir Angus Houston humbled by Australia Day award (ABC News)

"Successive governments have relied on Sir Angus's wisdom, judgment and character," Mr Abbott said.

"Throughout his life, Sir Angus has put Australia first.

"He immigrated to Australia as an adult, he chose Australia and we are much the better for it."

The honour of knights and dames in the Order of Australia was reintroduced by Mr Abbott last year.

Prince praised for long life of service

The Prime Minister said the honour for Prince Philip recognised his contribution to Australia throughout the Queen's 62-year reign.

"Prince Philip's long life of service and dedication should be honoured by Australia," Mr Abbott said.

"The Duke of Edinburgh's Award in Australia has supported the development of young Australians for more than 50 years.

"The award has positively influenced the lives of hundreds of thousands of young Australians."

Prince Charles was appointed a Knight of the Order of Australia in 1981.

The head of Australians for Constitutional Monarchy, Professor David Flint, said today's knighthood was an appropriate recognition for Prince Philip's "long relationship with Australia".

"He was a sailor in the convoys that protected Australian troops being taken to the Middle East in the Second World War," Professor Flint said.

"He was also in the Pacific Fleet and he was actually in Tokyo Bay at the time the Japanese surrendered.

"He opened the '56 Olympics, he's got a very long relationship through the Duke of Edinburgh Awards scheme."

Professor Flint rejected suggestions it was inappropriate to award the knighthood to someone who was not a citizen of Australia.

"He has been the consort to our Queen of Australia for so long, he's stood beside her," he said.

"He's never been paid, there's going to be no golden handshake or anything like that. It's a job he's done as a volunteer."

Geoff Gallop says honour 'sad reflection on nation'

But Mr Gallop said Mr Abbott's decision to start awarding Australian knighthoods had "heavily polluted" the Australian honours system.

"We've now got a dual system," he said.

"One part of it determined very politically at the top by the Prime Minster and his office, the other part through a proper process of determination.

"It's a sad reflection on our country that we're now giving one of our highest honours to someone who's not a resident here in our own country.

"As we try to reflect upon our nation ... one of Australia's highest honours goes to someone who's not part of our community.

"In effect this is the eccentricity of Tony Abbott's views on our constitution coming through.

"It certainly doesn't reflect the view of the Australian people through a meritocratic process."

Yesterday, Opposition Leader Bill Shorten called for a new push for Australia to become a republic.

Long list of community heroes honoured

In other honours, world champion surfer Layne Beachley, film critic David Stratton and former federal minister Richard Alston were among 38 people appointed officers of the Order of Australia.

A total of 824 people were honoured among this year's awards, including top scientists, charity founders, actors and community heroes.

Beachley has seven world surfing titles to her name, but it is for her work helping other women achieve their dreams through her charity, the Aim For The Stars Foundation, that she received the Australia Day honour.

"This actually sits right up there next to my seventh world title quite honestly, because I've lived a life that I've loved," she said.

Professor Janice Reid, a former vice-chancellor of the University of Western Sydney, was appointed Companion of the Order of Australia (AC) for her service to tertiary education and advocacy for equitable access to education.

"There is nothing more rewarding than sitting in a graduation and seeing a student come across the stage who is a refugee who left dreadful circumstances of war or imprisonment or torture and to see that person graduating," she said.

Kathleen Abbott got some good news despite being in hospital, receiving a Member of the Order of Australia for her tireless work in the field of Aboriginal health.

Mrs Abbott was one of the first and longest serving Aboriginal health workers in the Northern Territory and advocates for the vital role that Aboriginal health workers play in caring for their own people.

Sir Angus Houston's achievements Prime Minister's special envoy to Ukraine, in hazardous circumstances, to lead Australia's efforts to recover, identify and repatriate Australians killed in Malaysia Airlines flight MH17 disaster, 2014

Chief coordinator Joint Agency Coordination Centre for the search for Malaysia Airlines flight MH370, 2014

Chair Airservices Australia since June 2012

Chair Council for the Order of Australia since January 2012

Chair Anzac Centenary Advisory Board July 2011–14

Chair Canberra Symphony Orchestra since 2013

Chair Victorian Police Corporate Advisory Board

Chair Queensland Mind and Neuroscience Institute Foundation Board

Chief of Defence Force, 2005-11

Chief of Air Force, 2001-05

Companion in the Military Division of the Order of Australia, 2008

Officer in the Military Division of the Order of Australia, 2003

Member in the Military Division of the Order of Australia, 1990

Air Force Cross, 1980

National finalist Australian of the Year (ACT) 2012

Father of the Year, 2011

Topics: australia-day, awards-and-prizes, royal-and-imperial-matters, human-interest, people, australia

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