This year close to 50 alumni received accolades in the 2011 Queen's Birthday Honours. The honours recognise and celebrate those who make a difference, those who achieve their best and those who serve others.

Honoured alumni included:

John Anderson BA '78 MA '80, former Deputy Prime Minister & former Leader of the National Party, awarded an AO for distinguished service to the Parliament of Australia, particularly through support of rural and regional communities, transport development and water management initiatives.

Richard Le Plastrier BArch '63, a seminal figure in Australian architecture, who received an AO for distinguished service to architecture, particularly through the application of environmentally sensitive design, and as an educator and mentor.

Mr Mark Scott BA '84 DipEd '84 MA '93, Managing Director of the Australian Broadcasting Commission since 2006, who received an AO for distinguished service to media and communications, and to the community through advisory and governance roles with a range of social justice and educational bodies.

Peter FitzSimons BA '83, a former Wallaby rugby player, celebrated author and columnist with the Sydney Morning Herald, received an AM for service to literature as a biographer, sports journalist and commentator, and to the community through contributions to conservation, disability care, social welfare and sporting organisations.

Kerryn Phelps MBBS '81, former president of the Australian Medical Association, medical professional and media personality, for service to medicine, particularly through leadership roles with the Australian Medical Association, to education and community health, and as a general practitioner.

Click here to view a full listing.

A project aimed at determining the thresholds at which Australian farmers may need to transform their industry in response to climate change has secured University of Sydney researchers a prestigious $250,000 national grant.

She was the state leader of a major political party, played a lead role in a primetime television drama, fought for social change and ran a radio station in a newly decolonised Malaysia. At 90 years of age, Lis Kirkby is now undertaking a PhD at the University of Sydney on similarities between the Great Depression and the Global Financial Crisis.