Stephen O'Doherty has received an OAM for service to the community.
CMAA board member Stephen O’Doherty has been honoured in the 2024 King’s Birthday Honours list.
Announced by the Governor-General David Hurley ahead of the King’s Birthday public holiday on June 10, Stephen received an OAM, for service to the community ‘through a range of organisations’. This includes his extensive work with CMAA over the past decade, along with his service on the Community Broadcasting Roundtable, and on the boards of Hope Media (Hope 1032 Sydney), Family Radio (96five Brisbane), Salt 106.5 (Sunshine Coast) and Juice 107.3 (Gold Coast).
The selection process for the King’s Birthday Honours list is confidential, but Stephen said he believes he may have been nominated by someone in community music circles; he is a life members of the Golden Kangaroos Hornsby Concert Band, where he is music director and principal conductor. The award also honours his extensive work in community arts, NSW parliament and mainstream media.
Stephen said that he was honoured to receive the award, and has always tried to live a life of service since becoming a Christian in his 20s.
"God gave me Ephesians 4:1 as a mission verse: 'live a life worthy of the calling you have received'," he said. "Paul’s letter goes on to talk about the ways God equips people for works of service... It’s been a blessing that time [working] in broadcasting, parliament, education, music and advocacy, all equipped me for service in Christian media."
The Power of Christian Media
Stephen said that his service to the sector is based on a strong belief in the power and potential of Christian media.
"Through decades of public life I’ve never experienced a time when the public square was a more contested space for people of faith than now," he said. "I’ve also never seen a more exciting season of opportunity for Christian media."
He added that he'd been overwhelmed and humbled by messages of congratulations by old friends and colleagues.
Receiving awards alongside Stephen were former ABC children’s TV host Jimmy Rees, radio and TV star Hamish Blake, and Catholic nun Sister Jane Keogh. A long time refugee advocate, 78-year-old Sister Jane spent 26 days outside Canberra’s Parliament House in 2015 to raise awareness of refugees on Nauru and Manus Island.
Other notable recipients include former Labor minister Greg Combet, former Australian cricketer Glenn McGrath, golfer Peter Senior, former Powderfinger bassist John “JC” Collins, former premiers Dan Andrews (Victoria) and Mark McGowan (WA), and idigenous Australian chef Aunty Beryl Van.
To make a nomination for a future honours list, head to the King’s Birthday Honours website.