Little River Band’s Beeb Birtles and David Briggs Receive Order of Australia Award - Noise11.com
Beeb Birtles interview in Melbourne for Noise11. Photo by Ros O'Gorman

Beeb Birtles interview in Melbourne for Noise11. Photo by Ros O'Gorman

Little River Band’s Beeb Birtles and David Briggs Receive Order of Australia Award

by Paul Cashmere on January 26, 2025

in News

Former Little River Band members Gerard Bertelkamp (Beeb Birtles) and David Briggs have both been named in the Australia Day honors list and awarded the Member of the Order of Australia (AM).

Member of the Order of Australia (AM) in the General Division

Mr Gerard Bertelkamp
For significant service to the performing arts as a singer, songwriter and musician.

YouTube video player

Music
• Musician, Singer-Songwriter, Guitarist and Producer, since 1960s.
• Band Member, Birtles Shorrock Goble, 2002-2007.
• Founding Band Member, Little River Band, 1975-1983.
• Band Member, Mississippi, 1972-1974.
• Band Member, Zoot, 1967-1971.

Songwriting includes:
• You’re Driving Me Out of My Mind, 1983.
• Last Romance, 1980.
• I’m Coming Home, 1979.
• I’ll Always Call Your Name, 1977.
• Happy Anniversary, 1977.
• Home On Monday, 1977.
• Every Day of My Life, 1976.
• Curiosity Killed the Cat, 1975.

Albums include:
• Archaeology, 2018.
• Late Arrival, 2008.
• Full Circle, 2003.
• The Spirit of Christmas, 2002.
• Driven By Dreams, 1999.
• Too Late to Load, 1988.
• The Net, 1983.
• The Last Romance, 1980.
• Diamantina Cocktail, 1977.
• Little River Band, 1975.
• Just Zoot, 1970.

Publications
• Author, Every Day of Life, Brolga Publishing, 2017.

Awards and Recognition include:
• Inducted, South Australian Music Hall of Fame, 2017.
• Inducted, Australian Songwriters Association Hall of Fame, 2006.
• Inducted, Little River Band, ARIA Hall of Fame, 2004.
• Best Recorded Songwriter (with Graeham Goble), I’m Coming Home, Go-Set Pop Poll Awards, 1979.
• Best Bass Guitarist, King of Pop Awards, TV Week, 1971.
• Best Bass Guitarist, Go-Set Pop Poll Awards, 1971.
• Various band and album awards, 1969-2007

Mr David John Briggs, Camberwell VIC 3124
For significant service to the performing arts as a guitarist, songwriter and producer.

YouTube video player

Music
• Founding Member and Lead Guitarist, Little River Band, 1976-1981.
• Guitarist, Cycle, 1970.
• Guitarist, The Avengers, 1970.

Songwriting includes:
• Hoochie Gucci Fiorucci Mama, 1980.
• Lonesome Loser, 1979.
• Happy Anniversary, 1977.

Albums include:
• Time Exposure, 1981.
• First Under the Wire, 1979.
• Sleeper Catcher, 1978.
• Diamantina Cocktail, 1977.

Music Production
• Recording/Mastering Engineer, since 1979.
• Co-Founder and Former Producer, Rough Diamond Records.
• Music Producer of artists such as
o Australian Crawl
o Russell Morris and the Rubes
o No Fixed Address
o The Stockings
o The Orphans
o Skyhooks
o Daryl Braithwaite

Victoria University
• Lecturer, Applied Acoustic Design, 2002-2010.
• Lecturer, Advanced Digital Audio Mastering, 2002-2010.

Awards and Recognition include:
• Inducted, Little River Band, ARIA Hall of Fame, 2004.
• Advance Australia Award for Outstanding Contribution to Music, Advance Australia Foundation,
1979.
• First Australian guitar player to be recognised by US magazine Guitar Player, 1976.

LRB singer Glenn Shorrock was awarded the Order of Australia (AM) in 2020. Songwriter Graeham Goble was awarded a Medal of the Order of Australia (OAM) in the 2021 Australia Day Honours.

Songwriter and Producer Paul Begaud also received an award.

Medal of the Order of Australia (OAM) in the General Division

Mr Paul Justin Begaud, NSW
For service to the music industry as a songwriter and producer.

Songwriter
• Co-Writer, Dare to Dream, Olympic Games Opening Ceremony Anthem, Games of the XXVII
Olympiad, Sydney, 2000.
• Co-Writer, Reach Out, 15th Asian Games Opening Ceremony Song of Peace Anthem, 2006.
• Writer/Co-writer, works performed by artists:
o Olivia Newton-John;
o John Farnham;
o Tina Arena;
o Human Nature;
o Troy Cassar-Daley;
o Melinda Schneider;
o Felicity Urquhart;
o Terri Clark;
o The Honeyz;
o Donny Osmond; and
o Wynonna Judd.

Record Producer
• Recorded and produced singles and/or albums for artists including:
o Human Nature;
o Delta Goodrem;
o Selwyn; and
o Felicity Urquhart.
• Produced music for the Nine and Seven Networks, Qantas, Westfield, and NSW Tourism.

Singer and Performer
• Solo album, Forevermore (under pseudonym Paul Bennett), Ariola/RCA, 1993.
• Solo singles, This Is Real Love, Forevermore, I Don’t Wanna Cry Again (under pseudonym Paul
Bennett), Ariola, 1993.
• Solo single, Everybody, BMG, 1992.
• Ridgey Didge (children’s series), Network 10, 1987-1989.
• Various stage and television performances.

Awards and Recognition Include:
• ARIA, CRIA, BPI, RIAA Certified Multi-Gold and Multi-Platinum Records, Various Countries.
• Country Music Award, ASCAP (American Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers.) United
States of America.
• Performance Songwriter Award, BMI (Broadcast Music, Inc.), United States of America.
• Million-Air Award, BMI (Broadcast Music, Inc.), United States of America.

Stay updated with your free Noise11.com daily music news email alert. Subscribe to Noise11 Music News here

Be the first to see NOISE11.com’s newest interviews and special features on YOUTUBE and updated regularly. See things first SUBSCRIBE here: Noise11 on YouTube SUBSCRIBE

YouTube video player

Noise11.com

Noise11 is now on Bluesky. Follow us at

Related Posts

Glass Animals Heat Waves
ARIA Chart Positions Project A 2025 Australian Artist Chart Disgrace

ARIA’s first six months of published music charts are projecting that Australian artist chart figures for 2025 will be a disaster. All that recent fluff about changing the chart formula looks like just ‘deck chairs being rearranged on the Titanic’ based on how Australian artists have performed on the ARIA chart so far in 2025.

2 days ago
Joe Camilleri Black Sorrows
Wilbur Wilde’s Message To The Punks Who Stole Joe Camilleri’s Guitars

Former Jo Jo Zep & The Falcons sax player Wilbur Wilde has a few words for the thieves who broke into the home of Joe Camilleri and stole thousands of dollars of equipment.

4 days ago
Horizon album
John Farnham Band Members Band Horizon Share New Song ‘Primitive’

Melbourne’s Horizon, the band featuring John Farnham Band members Angus Burchall and Brett Garsed with Lee Bradshaw, Rich Panaia and the late Stuart Fraser, have a new song ‘Primitive’ ahead of their Melbourne performance in August.

4 days ago
Jimmy Barnes Working Class Man movie promo shot
Jimmy Barnes, Butthole Surfers, Jeff Buckley Movies To Premiere At Melbourne International Film Festival

Movies about Jimmy Barnes, Jeff Buckley and Butthole Surfers will be featured at the 2025 Melbourne Internation Film Festival.

5 days ago
Ian Moss Says He Chose His Cold Chisel ‘Big Five-O’ Songs Just Before Going On Stage

If you saw the Cold Chisel ‘The Big Five-O’ tour multiple times you may have noticed a random rotation of Ian Moss songs from concert to concert.

5 days ago
Hilltop Hoods by Ashlee Jones
Hilltop Hoods Ninth Album is ‘Fall From The Light’

Hilltop Hoods will release their ninth album ‘Fall From The Light’ 1 August and then hit the road for the Never Coming Home tour in February 2026.

6 days ago
Joe Camilleri Apia Good Times 2021 photo by Noise11
Joe Camilleri’s Vintage Guitar Collection Stolen

Joe Camilleri’s home in regional Victoria has been broken into and the thief has taken nine of his prized guitars.

July 5, 2025