Brad Rossiter no longer has 20-20 sight, but the Australia Day honours committee showed plenty of vision in recognising him in the 2020 listings.
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The Surfside resident has been recognised for his immense efforts on behalf of the Eurobodalla community.
He is being presented with a Medal of the Order of Australia (OAM) thanks to his tireless work promoting issues such as community health, organ donation and accessibility matters.
Mr Rossiter is a double leg amputee and is vision impaired as a result of diabetes and kidney disease but hasn't let that slow him down.
In fact his OAM citation highlights that, over the last 10 years, he has hosted more than 600 community awareness and education events in Batemans Bay and surrounding districts.
Speaking to the Bay Post/Moruya Examiner, Mr Rossiter said he was "humbled and honoured".
"To be recognised and to have an honour such as this is amazing," he said.
"It is 12-and-a-half years since my transplants. My parents and I decided there was so much down here that needed to be advocated for. We decided I would be the beacon to put the message out there."
Mr Rossiter had first-hand experience of how difficult it was to see specialists and get treatment in a regional town and has become a tireless health consumer advocate.
"We stretch a lot more than Bridge Plaza on a Friday," he said of his regular fundraising stint in Batemans Bay.
"We want to make sure we get the best we can for our shire."
He is a member of the NSW Ministry of Health consumer council; the Agency for Clincial Innovations, regional and remote executive and is the consumer representative for NSW on the agency's renal advisory committee.
READ MORE: Brad calls on big smiles for organ donation
Eric and Kath Rossiter passed away in 2012 but would be very proud of their son.
Proud too are wife Lorae, son Eric and daughter-in-law Laura.
"Without Lorae there is no Brad," Mr Rossiter acknowledged.
"She is the quiet one and a steady influence on me when I come home with these ideas. Lorae says 'let's have a think about where we are up to and what we are doing'."
Mr Rossiter could not sit still when the bushfire emergency hit Batemans Bay and has so far raised $1991 for the Batemans Bay RFS during his regular visits to Bridge Plaza.
" We have been given a REX Airlines flight return from Moruya to Sydney and a hamper from Bunnings and will have a big fundraising raffle," he said.
It has been Australia's lost summer. Drought, hail, floods and, worst of all, bushfires have ravaged communities all over the nation. But the selfless actions of friends, family, neighbours, strangers, local groups and volunteer organisations have inspired us and strengthened the bonds of community. Please join us in saying thanks to the heroes of the home front by sharing your stories of gratitude. To salute a person or a group, please use the form below.
