1985 : offered appointment as an honorary Officer ( AO ) of the Order of Australia but he refused to accept the award .
Officer was appalled at what Officer regarded as blatant lack of interest by the government in eye care for Aboriginal people .
1985 : offered appointment as an honorary Officer ( AO ) of the Order of Australia but he refused to accept the award because he was appalled at what he regarded as blatant lack of interest by the government in eye care for Aboriginal people .