A former newspaper editor, a livestock production expert and a champion of the elderly are among the list of Australia Day awards in 2020 in the New England and North West.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
or signup to continue reading
The honours, awarded by the Governor-General annually, recognise outstanding community service and contributions.
Owen Tydd, AFSM
Owen Tydd has been fighting fires since he was an 11-year-old farm boy - now just three months shy of his 71st birthday, he's still in the Rural Fire Service.
He is being honoured with an Australian Fire Service Medal in this year's Australia Day honours.
But the Liverpool Range group 4 captain said it was not about him - "it's for all of us".
"I'm accepting this honour for group 4. I couldn't do it without [them]. It is a team effort," he said.
Laurie Barber, OAM
Laurie Barber, an Inverell Rotarian, former Inverell Times editor, author and basketball enthusiast, is awarded a Medal of the Order of Australia in the Australia Day honours list for service to the community.
Mr Barber, who now lives in Port Macquarie, said he was surprised and humbled to be recognised for what he enjoyed doing.
Dr Hutton Oddy, PSM
Hutton Oddy receives the Public Service Medal in the Australia Day honours this year.
Dr Oddy's career spans more than 40 years with the NSW government, mainly with the Department of Primary Industries where he is a senior principal research scientist.
He also holds a position as an adjunct professor at UNE.
Colin Mann, OAM
Tenterfield resident Colin Mann receives the Medal of the Order of Australia for his service to aged welfare over 30 years.
From 1989 to 2018, Mr Mann led the community in establishing hostel and nursing home care under what's now known as Tenterfield Care Centre, so the aged and infirm could remain close to family and friends.
Dot Vickery, OAM
Former Guyra citizen of the year Dot Vickery receives the Medal of the Order of Australia in this year's Australia Day honours, for her service to local government and to the community of Guyra.
"I've always done a certain amount of community work," Mrs Vickery said. "You don't do things for accolades; you do them because you want the community to progress."
Richard Barry, OAM
For his service to veterans and their families, and to the community of Narrabri, Richard Barry is being honoured with a Medal of the Order of Australia.
Mr Barry is a speaker, author and campaigner who educates, documents and advocates on the topics of national service and wartime experiences.
He has organised a reunion of Nashos in Brisbane every two years since 2005 - and, for decades, has fought for thousands of them to be eligible for the Republic of Vietnam Campaign Medal.
Mr Barry himself gave national service in South Vietman from 1967 to 1969, with the 6th Battalion.
Cheryl Moggs, OAM
"Live your life, don't just exist," is the mantra of Cheryl Moggs, who has been named a recipient of the Medal of the Order of Australia for service to the Indigenous community.
"We shouldn't just be living day-to-day or week-to-week," she said.
"What will people say about you when you pass over? Have you made something of yourself? Have you been a good role model within your community?"
Andrew Farriss, AM
INXS composer Andrew Farriss has seen the height of music success.
The former member of one of the country's most famous rock bands has just been made a Member of the Order of Australia for significant service to the performing arts as a musician, composer and producer.
David Briggs, AM
After more than half a century of dedication to the health sector, David Briggs is recognised this Australia Day as a Member of the Order of Australia - but it's a career that almost never happened.
Dr Briggs AM is perhaps best known as the longtime chief executive of Tamworth Base Hospital, where he steered the region's most important health institution for 16 years.
Bill Warburton, OAM
When you ask Bill Warburton why he spends so much of his time volunteering for organisations, he has a simple answer.
"Tamworth has been pretty good to me," he said.
Mr Warburton is honoured this Australia Day with a Medal of the Order of Australia for his service to the community.
John Bevan, AFSM
A fire captain's 32-year commitment to protecting people and mentoring firefighters in Lightning Ridge has been recognised in today's Australia Day honours.
Lightning Ridge Fire Station Captain John Bevan has been awarded an Australian Fire Service Medal (AFSM) - the highest honour an Australian firefighter can receive - for outstanding service to Fire and Rescue NSW over the past 32 years.
Marie Knight, OAM
Sheep and cattle farmer Marie Knight, of Coonabarabran, represents the camaraderie between thousands of farmers and thousands of donors.
She's being honoured with a Medal of the Order of Australia for her work setting up and co-ordinating Lamb Jumpers: Helping Our Farmers.
The initiative collects handmade jumpers and sends them to farmers or foster carers to keep orphaned lambs warm.
"I think everyone needs to be congratulated - those that helped but also the farmers that were willing to accept that help," Mrs Knight OAM said.
Vernon Turner OAM
A lifetime dedicated to hockey, as well as contribution to education, has earned Armidale's Vernon Turner the prestigious Medal of the Order of Australia.
As a player, Turner reached great heights in the sport, but his greatest pride was in mentoring and developing the sport's up-and-coming superstars.
Born in 1924, Turner didn't start playing hockey until later in his teenage years when he began at Glebe Hockey Club.
He developed quickly as a player and rocketed up the ranks.
