Geoffrey Sainty was born and raised in Hanwood, and said the announcement was “surprising” in the best way.

“I had the first inkling of it late last year when they said I was being considered for it, and the only person I told is my partner Leslie,” Mr Sainty said.

“I’ve been keeping it a secret, mum’s the word, and now I’m just thrilled!”

After a 40-year love affair with water plants, his expertise has made numerous contributions to the literary world as an author, co-author and co-editor of numerous technical books and field guides on the environment and ecology.

While only semi-retired, he is still dabbling in projects, lending his expert advice to two projects outside of Griffith: one in Morton Bay and another in Newcastle.

And that’s not forgetting his passion to see Lake Wyangan here in Griffith restored to it’s former glory.

“I’d like to see it come back, and I am trying to somehow stir it along, for the birds, the plants, and also the recreational activity.”

Mr Sainty says his success throughout his career is attributed to luck.

“You have to be lucky in life, and I’m so thankful that I was,” Mr Sainty said.

Originally working as a District Sheep and Wool officer in the MIA, his life was changed when he was asked to investigate the reason behind some blocked channels.

“When I did investigate, I was just totally enchanted by this group of plants that were growing in the water. Here I am going heavily in one direction and then switched completely. I was studying at uni part-time and when I saw the plants I said that’s it. I’m with these wondrous living organisms.”

His career has seen him experience the “freedom” to come and go as he pleased.

Working as an Honorary Research Associate for National Herbarium of New South Wales Royal Botanic Garden, starting in 1983 was one of his favorite times.

“I was asked by the director of the herbarium to become a research associate, and I said, but I haven't got a research degree –  which most of them have to have, but they wanted people who mostly knew where the plants were.

“They said we don’t care where you go or what you do. So I’d go get the expenses for two weeks and I’d head of to North Queensland. I had approval to go where I wanted, as long as I came back!”

Mr Sanity has traveled internationally to places such as Egypt, California and New Zealand, just to name a few.

“I zipped all over the place and became more and more caught up in it,” he said.

He began to move away from working for organisations, spending 50 per cent of his time working for CSIRO, and started publishing.

“I was always interested in good quality illustrations that moved away from strict botanical descriptions into more applied descriptions of who they are and what they’re doing.”

He started out publishing Burnum Burnum’s Book Wildthings, before moving into more specific publications based on waterplants, like Waterplants in Australia: A Field Guide, pictured to the left.

Services Mr Sainty is being recognised for include: Wetland Ecologist and Private Consultant, Sainty and Associates, since 1981 (specialising in wetland management), Proprietor, Sainty Books since 1985, as well as his work as Author, Co-author and Co-Editor of numerous technical books and field guides on the environment and ecology.

Wetlands expert Geoff Sainty on how we can address Lake Wyangan water woes

He has also received the Medal for Leadership from the Council of Australasian Weed Society in 2004.

In the Australian honours system appointments to the Order of Australia confer recognition for outstanding achievement and service. 

The Medal of the Order of Australia is awarded for service worthy of particular recognition. 

Recipients of the Order of Australia are from many fields of endeavours and all walks of life.