Former Oxley MP Andrew Stoner and retired academic Ross Chambers were each appointed a Member of the Order of Australia (AM), former volunteer Barry Gaukroger was awarded a Medal of the Order of Australia (OAM) and the late Dr Keith Beck of Wauchope was posthumously awarded a Medal of the Order of Australia (OAM).

Port Macquarie’s Clayton Trevilyan was the recipient of a Public Service Medal for outstanding public service through the creation of more inclusive and accessible workplaces for APS employees with a disability. Clayton has worked for the Australian public service for just over 20 years where he now drives the strategic direction in relation to workplace diversity and inclusion.

Emeritus Professor Ross Chambers’ AM honour was in recognition of significant service to education through a range of senior academic roles and to providing tertiary opportunities in regional areas.

The retired academic, whose career spanned about 35 years, said the honour was moving in a way and he felt very fortunate and thankful.

Emeritus Professor Chambers made significant contributions and held numerous appointments at Charles Sturt University, culminating as Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Academic) for a decade from 2002 to 2012.

He was involved in the establishment of CSU Port Macquarie and acted as head of campus for Port Macquarie from 2012 to 2015.

Emeritus Professor Chambers said the community response to the campus here had been absolutely fantastic.

“I’m really pleased with the way the university has continued to support the development of the campus and the way in which people have enrolled in the courses,” he said.

“The quality of the staff we’ve been able to attract in Port Macquarie is outstanding.”

Emeritus Professor Chambers said people in the country should have the same opportunities as their city counterparts to follow their interest and pursue careers of interest.

His continuing connections with CSU include in the areas of theology and inter-religious dialogue.

Emeritus Professor Chambers’s achievements include his work in developing CSU's policing and security programs from the early 1990s and his involvement in Indigenous education, particularly working with the Wiradjuri community.

Wiradjuri language and heritage recovery programs were developed at CSU with the Wiradjuri Council of Elders.

Meanwhile, former Oxley MP Andrew Stoner says he is honoured and humbled at the Queen’s Birthday Honours List accolade.

Mr Stoner was appointed a Member of the Order of Australia (AM) for significant service to the people and Parliament of NSW, to Australia-China business relations and to the community.

“I feel very honoured to be recognised in this way - in my former political role I did the best that I could for the people of the Mid-North Coast, regional NSW and the state as a whole - that was my job, so to now receive this honour is quite humbling,” he said.

Mr Stoner was the Oxley MP from 1999 until his retirement from politics in 2015.

He was the Deputy Premier from 2011 to 2014, held a range of ministerial portfolios and was the NSW Nationals leader from 2003 to 2014.

Mr Stoner said he had been privileged to have contributed towards significant improvements in the lives of nearly eight million people in NSW, including through a stronger economy, more jobs, and better infrastructure and services. 

“This honour is now like the icing on the cake,” he said.

“When I drive on the vastly improved and safer Pacific Highway, when I see upgraded hospitals and schools in communities like Wauchope, Kempsey and Macksville, when I see the magnificent International Convention Centre Precinct at Darling Harbour, I feel a great sense of satisfaction that I have played a part in making a positive difference in the lives of many.”

Mr Stoner, as then Minister for Trade and Investment, placed a priority on the state’s economic relationship with China, and led several NSW trade missions and developed policy aimed at leveraging economic benefits including growth in exports and in-bound investments. 

“China is now Australia’s largest trading partner, helping to create many jobs in export and other industries,” Mr Stoner said.

“Since leaving politics, I have continued in that vein, becoming the inaugural patron of the Australia China Economic Trade & Cultural Association, senior adviser to the Australia China Entrepreneurs Club, senior adviser to two Australian companies doing business in China, and board member of several Australian-listed companies with their headquarters in China.”