Port Macquarie resident Barry Gaukroger has been awarded a Medal of the Order of Australia (OAM) in the Queen’s Birthday Honours List for his service to the Inverell community.

The 85-year-old believes his greatest achievements are raising his two sons and his campaign to establish a renal dialysis unit at Inverell District Hospital.

Patients at the time faced the added burden of travelling out of Inverell to receive dialysis.

The campaign paid off and a four-chair dialysis unit opened for operation in March 2001.

Mr Gaukroger’s Inverell community contributions over the years have ranged from University of the Third Age Inverell committee member, Inverell East Bowling Club chairman and treasurer, St Vincent de Paul Society volunteer and Inverell Macintyre Lions inaugural president.

Mr Gaukroger moved from Inverell to the coast in 2009.

He was a volunteer at Port Macquarie Koala Hospital for a short time, attended the Port Macquarie Men’s Shed and was a keen member of Sing Australia.

Mr Gaukroger, who is living with dementia, resides in Port Macquarie.