Recognition is poignant for Seekers

For The Seekers' lead singer Judith Durham, public recognition has a special poignancy coming a little over a year after she had a brain haemorrhage.

Durham said the health scare had helped her and her bandmates to appreciate "every moment".

"We've marvelled at the miracle of the fact that I'm still here and all four Seekers are still here," she said yesterday. "All of us have talked in terms of what a miracle it is."

Durham and Athol Guy, Keith Potger and Bruce Woodley have been appointed Officers of the Order of Australia.

The band has just finished an Australian and British tour.

"Words can't convey the excitement of the last shows - it has been absolutely mindboggling," Durham said. "I can't imagine how it could have been any better."

With hits including I'll Never Find Another You and Georgy Girl, The Seekers' accolades include being named Australians of the Year in 1967 and being inducted into the Australian Record Industry Association's Hall of Fame.