Former Prime Minister John Howard. Picture: Dan Himbrechts
Source: News Limited
FORMER prime minister John Howard has been appointed a member of the Order of Merit by the Queen.
The honour is bestowed on individuals who achieve “exceptional distinction in the arts, learning, sciences and other areas such as public service”.
Appointments are made by the monarch and do not require government input.
The order is restricted to 24 members and occasional foreign recipients.
Other Australians to have been appointed are: Samuel Alexander, Gilbert Murray, Sir Macfarlane Burnet, Sir Owen Dixon, Lord Florey, Sir Sidney Nolan and Dame Joan Sutherland. Scientist Lord May of Oxford is the only other Australian member still living.