Everald's distinguished service to the aged welfare sector through advocacy and advisory roles, to the Uniting Church in Australia, and to the community has seen him appointed an Officer of Australia (OA) in the General Division.

Mr Compton has had a lifelong fascination with John Flynn and having wrote about his life he remains a big supporter of Cloncurry's John Flynn Place.

His dedication and service was originally recognised 30 years ago, when he was awarded the Member of the Order of Australia (AM) in 1992.

Everald helms from Aspley in Brisbane and was surprised to receive the honour and said "you never know when these things are going to happen".

"It's actually the second time I received the Order of Australia and they tell me that there's not a great number of people who get the order twice," Mr Compton said.

"I first received the AM almost 30 years later I'm now an Officer of the Order and it makes me feel very happy that I got it twice.

"I don't think I'll get it three times if I have to wait another 30 years for another promotion, I think that might be stretching it a bit."

Mr Compton is a certified practicing accountant and marketer, author, Uniting Church Elder, charitable trust founder, founding director of National Seniors Australia, and was chair of the Australian Transport and Energy Corridor Ltd in the mid-1990s-late 2000s.

Everald actively lobbied for the creation of an inland rail Project linking Melbourne to Darwin and his passion and service to the transport industry awarded him the Centenary Medal in 2003.

A founder of National Seniors Australia in 1976, Mr Compton was on the board for 35 years and chairman for 25 years, before he retired on his 80th birthday.

"We wanted older people to be looked upon as an asset to Australia and not a liability and that everybody, while they're alive, should be given the opportunity in some small way to contribute whatever they want to do," he said.

Everald is currently working in central Queensland as a follow up to his work as a pioneer of the Inland Railway and is the leader of the movement to get Voluntary Assisted Dying Legislation through the Queensland Parliament.