Former Inverell Shire councillor Betty Moore, and retired McLean Retirement Village CEO Paul Cook, will accept the Australia Day honours for the service they have prodided to the local community.

Ms Moore, best known as the lightening rod which sparked a nation-wide pension revolt, has been honoured for her service to her community.

She's devoted her life to the community through a range of health, service and local government organisations.

Ms Moore was a member of the Australian Institute of Radiography from 1956 until 1990 and founded the New England Sub-Branch.

She was a patron of the Adopt-a-Pensioner Scheme, which included attending the Australia 2020 summit on behalf of 2UE Radio in 2008.

She was an Inverell Shire Councillor in 1987 and from 1995 until 2004.

Ms Moore was also a community member of the Ministry of Transport's Inverell Transport Community Group.

A modest Ms Moore said the community was her family and she was honoured to be recognised for her work.

"It was truly unexpected," she said.

"I was taught to always put back into the community what society has given to me.

"If I didn't enjoy what I've done in the past I certainly wouldn't have done it to the extent that I have.

"The community has been a big part of my life and really, it's your family."

Mr Cook was recognised for the years he has devoted to aged care in Inverell as the Director of Nursing, then the CEO of McLean Memorial Retirement Village from 1993 until his retirement last year.

He set up an education program whereby all staff could receive in-service education and training which led to the organisation becoming a registered Enrolled Nurse Training Centre and ultimately a Registered Training Organisation in 1997.

Mr Cook also organised the formation of an Auxiliary which has raised hundreds of thousands of dollars, specifically for the care and comfort of residents.

Mr Cook said he was blown away by the news and was quite humbled by the honour.