Emeritus Professor Ross Ernest Griffith's dedication to textiles earns him an AM honour. Picture supplied

He might call it "not a big deal," but Emeritus Professor Ross Ernest Griffith's lifetime of service has earned him one of the nation's highest honours.

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The 86-year-old Bardwell Park resident has been appointed a Member of the Order of Australia (AM) - a surprise recognition for the man who spent decades shaping the country's textile industry, mentoring generations of students, and quietly driving community charity work.

"It's quite a surprise," Professor Griffith said. "I think it's important that the community recognises in some way, shape, or form, people's achievements. It reminds the world there is a standard...for those who go beyond the norm. It's a very nice thing to recognise people."

His journey with textiles began as a student at Sydney Technical High School. When faced with a choice between a teaching scholarship and a newly formed university path, he chose the latter. "The first offer looked more attractive," he said. "It was a new course being established and I was one of the first students in the School of Textile Technology. I was a fairly natural fit. I remember being fascinated by the whirring of technology in the factories, seeing how cotton fibre gets made into a chesty Bonds singlet."

That fascination turned into an academic career at the University of NSW. After graduating, Professor Griffith was invited back to take on an academic position, rising through the ranks to become the Head of the School of Textile Technology from 1985 to 1989, and the Head of the School of Fibre Science and Technology from 1990 to 1997.

Emeritus Professor Ross Ernest Griffith. Picture supplied

His expertise extended to shaping the minds of younger generations when he was appointed by the Department of Education to serve as the chairman of the NSW Board's Senior School Studies Syllabus Committee for Home Science and Textiles and Design between 1973 and 1988. In recognition of his decades of dedication, UNSW named him an emeritus professor in 2003.

His connection to UNSW became a defining point of pride. "My family have all graduated from the University of NSW," Professor Griffith said. "That was a major achievement for me to have my whole family involved."

Professor Griffith's dedication to society stretched beyond the lecture halls. He has been dedicated to charity work, and has been proudly associated with The Smith Family since 1985. His involvement with the organisation includes serving as an honorary director from 1985 to 2003, and later joining the Council of Governing Members in 2004, a position he still holds.

He also gave back to his neighbourhood by serving several terms as a director of the Bardwell Valley Golf Club across three decades.