Celebrating the very best of our community

And then, some months later, comes the investiture ceremony at Government House, when the Governor-General personally confers the honour upon each recipient, many travelling from across the nation for the occasion.

In the warmly lit, thick-carpeted drawing room of Government House, each recipient is called in from a side door to receive his or her award. After their citation is read out, the recipient faces the Governor-General, who pins the award to their chest and offers some personal congratulations, all delivered in sotto voce, creating a special moment just between them and the Queen's representative even if the room is filled.

Then it's time to turn for an official photograph before the recipient walks down the room to applause, often into the arms of their proud family. Everyone is dressed up - even the kids - and afterwards it is time to enjoy a special morning or afternoon tea in the palatial surrounds of Government House.

It's actually a very moving ceremony, and the pride felt by the recipient and their families is palpable.

Governor-General David Hurley last week presided over several investiture ceremonies, each a little smaller and more intimate than usual, in the face of the vestiges of social distancing.

Those being awarded their Order of Australia medal last week included Raiders legend Ricky Stuart (AM) for his significant contribution to rugby league and the community, Canberra obstetrician Dr David O'Rourke (OAM) for service to medicine and to West Timor, where he has funded a maternity hospital, and former Canberra police officer and Hawthorn AFLW coach Bec Goddard (OAM) for service to Australian rules football and to women in sport.

Despite the pomp and ceremony, Governor-General Hurley does his best to cut through it all, urging everyone to relax and enjoy the occasion, as he did last week during the heavy spring rain.

"This, of course, is a special day. The house is all done up, the gardens are as good as they can be in saturating rain, and we're all dressed up, the military is here in all their finery, the police commissioner is here, that must tell us this is something important, and, indeed, it is," he said.

"We're here to celebrate and acknowledge significant meritorious achievement to our country."

But, he added, "you're allowed to breathe".

The G-G told the audiences last week that Australia's honours structure, centred on the Order of Australia, introduced in 1975, was unique, because it was a "bottom-up system".

"What do I mean by that? The recipients in the general division, that's the community division, are nominated by fellow citizens in their community, " he said.

"It's not an honours system where an elite in Canberra or Sydney or Melbourne reaches down and says, 'Bill, Bob or Jenny is doing a great job', I'm going to give them a medal'. Each of the community recipients are here because someone in the community nominated them for their work."

To this end, General Hurley urged everyone to consider nominating someone they believed was worthy or recognition, especially as he continued his campaign to make the awards system, still weighted towards men, more reflective of the community.

"We need to continue to nominate women," he said.

"In addition, our awards do not reflect the multicultural nature of Australia, nor do they adequately address the Indigenous population of Australia. [These are] three areas we are concentrating on to improve our performance at the moment."

The Governor-General set everyone in the room some "homework".

"You know people in your community who deserve to be recognised, and can only be recognised if you nominate them," he said.

"I'd love to be able to mark or assess your homework by those people coming through the door over the next year or two because you have seen fit to nominate them.

"It's important we do. Our system reflects us and the effort we put into it."