that day and meet management to discuss broadcasting codes and content. He was subsequently dismissed from 3AW. Honours Howson was awarded an Order of Australia Medal in the 2009 Queen's Birthday Honours list "for service to the entertainment industry as a writer and performer". Personal life Howson lived in the Melbourne suburb of Balaclava for many years. He then moved to Los Angeles for 17 years and now holds dual US-Australian citizenship. Following the success of Shout he relocated back to Melbourne in 2006 where he lives with his Guatemalan partner, Alfie, and their three dogs. In recent years, Howson has been publicly open about his homosexuality, a subject about which he was previously very guarded, mainly due to his conservative Roman Catholic beliefs. Community service Howson is a patron of both the Melbourne Gay and Lesbian Chorus and of the St James the Great annual St Francis's Day Blessing of Animals. Filmography Actor Notable appearances References External links List of playwrights ABC interview Melbourne Gay and Lesbian Chorus 1936 births Living people 3AW presenters Australian film critics Australian emigrants to the United States Australian gay actors Australian gay writers LGBT Roman Catholics Australian television presenters Writers from Melbourne Recipients of the Medal of the Order of Australia People from Elwood, Victoria Radio personalities from Melbourne