Retired ophthalmologist Bill Nardi says he was “very pleased and honoured” to receive an Order of Australia Medal in today’s Queen’s Birthday honours list.

Dr Nardi, who grew up in Nimbin, was an eye surgeon in Lismore for more than 30 years.

“It's always nice to treat people with visual problems and get a good outcome,” he told the Lismore App. “Didn't always get a good outcome of course, but it's very gratifying when you did.

“I always enjoyed the work. It was good.”

He was also involved with the Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Ophthalmologists.

In 1989 he introduced a teaching scheme to train beginning ophthalmologists in a rural setting in Lismore, in association with Sydney Eye Hospital, and was an examiner on the Advanced Clinical Examination Board for nearly a decade.

“I was the only one from the country that was an examiner at that time for the final exam so I was all over the place: Brisbane, Sydney, Melbourne, Perth, Adelaide, Christchurch, Wellington, Auckland,” he said.

“So that was a great experience.”

Above all, Dr Nardi said his proudest achievement was his children and he also paid credit to his wife, Pam.

“I’ve got four kids who have all done very well,” he said.

“And my wife was a great supporter always - she probably deserves the award more than I do. She was always very heavily involved everything.”