For Tex O'Grady, being awarded a Medal of the Order of Australia for his tireless charity work is tinged with sadness.
The former Navy officer rode his motorcycle along with his cattle dog, Bundy, more than 900,000 kilometres around the country to help prostate cancer and mental health charities raise awareness — and more than $6 million — over the past 12 years.
After more than a decade of charity work and visiting the elderly and unwell in hospitals, he's heartbroken not to be able to share in the Australia Day honour with Bundy, who died last year aged 13.
"I only wish that she was here," Mr O'Grady said.
He said Bundy and his other dogs, Cash (also deceased) and Sheila, had been vital to his work, particularly when he visited people in hospitals.
"You go and talk to them, the lights are on but nobody's home — and then all of a sudden their eyes light up because the dog's there," Mr O'Grady said.
"To see the calming effect my dogs — in the past and the dog I have now — have on veterans and emergency service personnel with PTSD is quite amazing.
Bundy and Cash's ashes now have a special place on his motorbike and on his yacht, Mystic.
The Coffs Harbour resident started a sailing program last year to support veterans and those with PTSD.
"As much as an animal has a calming effect on people, I think the sea does as well — not in rough conditions, of course, but on a nice day," Mr O'Grady said.
"To be out there sailing has a really nice, calming effect for people.
Conservationist creating change
Mr O'Grady is one of 12 Mid North Coast residents who have received Australia Day honours.
Elsewhere in the region, Bellingen-based conservationist Sue Lennox is one of the 155 Australians being honoured with a Member of the Order of Australia (AM).
Ms Lennox has been bestowed the award for her lifelong passion and dedication to environmental sustainability through OzGreen.
Since co-founding the not-for-profit organisation 30 years ago, she has been involved in conservation projects in more than 1,600 communities worldwide including empowering young people to become more sustainable.
Ms Lennox hoped receiving an AM would help more young people preserve the environment through OzGreen.
"Young people found it really hard to talk about what was going on in the world — they easily became overwhelmed by it," she said.
"But [I] do it in a way that turns our attention to: 'How can we create change?'"
Dedicated to rural health
This year's Australia Day honours also recognise a long-serving Manning doctor.
Respiratory physician Peter Braude, based in Taree, has been awarded an Order of Australia Medal for more than three decades of service to rural medical practitioners.
"I think it more recognises not me particularly but in general physicians and doctors who come to the rural areas," he said.
He is also passionate about teaching the next generation of students coming through the hospital system.
"It's just an environment that makes me glad to get up every day and work in this area every day, and why I'm still doing it after 35 years," he said.
