1:00a.m. 26th January 2008

| By Jane Gardner and AAP

Sunshine Coast golden girl Lisa Curry-Kenny has been awarded one of the nation’s highest national honours, being appointed an Officer of the Order of Australia (AO).

The former swim star now has eight letters after her name (OAM, AM, MBE), 24 gold medals, 21 silver medals, eight bronze medals, one famous husband and three children.

She took a few minutes out of her official engagements – including announcing the Australian of the Year awards last night and attending ceremonies with Prime Minister Kevin Rudd today - to tell the Daily she was “very honoured and excited” to receive the AO award.

“It’s just been a great eight years with the National Australia Day Council,” she said.

“My family are proud of me, but it doesn’t really change anything because I still nag them to do the dishes.”

Curry-Kenny is the only Australian swimmer to have held Commonwealth and Australian records in every stroke except backstroke.

The AO honours her service to the community through "encouraging national pride and identity", particularly through leadership of the National Australia Day Council, which she has chaired since 2000.

Curry-Kenny, 45, said the role had made her passionate about using Australia Day as a point to reflect on the nation's direction.

"I think we are doing well, very well, but obviously you get a little bit disappointed when you see groups of people unable to accept other groups of people," she told AAP.

"Anyone can come to Australia and live in peace and harmony and that's what I like to see."

After being involved in the process of handing out Australia Day honours, Curry-Kenny said she was "amazed" to now be on the receiving end.

"I guess I never thought I would be in line for something like that," she said.

The daughter of Roy and Pat Curry, by the age of 12 she was one of the fastest swimmers of her age in the world.

Coached by Harry Gallagher, Curry-Kenny said she didn't excel at school, and was not a naturally gifted athlete.

Despite this, she went on to win medals in three Commonwealth Games.

In Edmonton in 1978 she won a silver medal, in Brisbane in 1982 she won three gold and a bronze, and in Auckland in 1990 she won four gold and one silver.

She also competed in the Moscow (1980), Los Angeles (1984) and Barcelona (1992) Olympics.

She married ironman and Olympian Grant Kenny in 1986, and they became one of Australia's favourite celebrity couples.

Now living at Maroochydore, the couple have three children: Jaimi, Morgan and Jett.

Curry-Kenny's successful swimming career, combined with her outgoing personality, meant she was sought after for television presenting and advertisements after retirement.

As well as endorsing other products, she has her own major surfwear label, Hot Curry, wrote her own series of fitness books, and gives motivational talks.

She was one of 10 people on the Sunshine Coast to receive Australia Day honours.

Order of Australia Medal recipient doctor Tony Whiley, of Nambour, was recognised for his 40 years, 34 with the DPI, fighting crop disease.

Battery Hill lifesaver Ian Grant also received an OAM. Other OAM recipients included Ivan Cash of Buderim, Dugald Campbell of Ilkley, Leonard Spira of Sunshine Beach, Therese O’Brien of Buderim, and Trevor Wortley of Buderim.

Norma McRae, of Mooloolah Valley, and Dr Raoul Nieper, of Maleny, were given AMs.