Congratulations to David Hough (dance critic, journalist and historian) and Leigh Johns (chairman of the Australian Ballet School), who were both awarded a Medal of the Order of Australia (OAM) in the 2017 Australia Day Awards.
David Hough’s medal is awarded for service to the performing arts as a journalist and author. Once a dancer himself, Hough reviewed dance and other performing arts for over 20 years. His writing appeared in Dance Australia, The National Times, The Bulletin and the Australian Financial Review. Obituaries contributor to The West Australian since 2001, Hough has also wriiten several books, including A Dream of Passion: the Centennial History of His Majesty's Theatre (2004). He is a member of West Australian Ballet’s artistic review panel and the Helpmann dance and physical theatre panel.
“It’s wonderful to see David formally acknowledged with this prestigious award," remarks West Australian Ballet executive director, Jessica Machin. "His immeasurable contributions to the sector over the past three decades have played a key role in developing the richness of WA’s arts community. On behalf of West Australian Ballet, congratulations.”
Leigh Johns’s medal is awarded for service to the community through performing arts and primary health care organisations, and to industrial relations. A fair work commissioner since 2013, Johns joined the board of the Australian Ballet School (ABS) in 2002 and became its chairman in 2011.
Lisa Pavane, director of the ABS, has praised Johns’s service to Australia's national centre for elite vocational classical dance. “Leigh Johns has been a valuable contributor to the Australian Ballet School’s success over the years. As a board member and then as chairman, Leigh has been instrumental in realising the aims of the School by striving to accomplish the visions and ambitions of its directors during his tenure; firstly for Marilyn Rowe OBE and now for myself,” she comments. “Leigh has applied his valuable guidance most recently to the School’s project of creating a boarding programme and through his considered oversight and skills engaging with stakeholders has seen Marilyn Rowe House open to boarders in 2016. We congratulate Leigh on this honour and thank him for his service to the Australian Ballet School.”
Pictured top: Commissioner Leigh Johns, Sara Andrlon and Noah Dunlop. Photo by Lynette Wills.