The benefits of the late Bernard "Midget" Farrelly's lifelong love of the water have flowed onto more Australians than he will ever know.
Having claimed surfing's inaugural world championship in 1964, Farrelly is regarded a pioneer for Australia's enduring dominance in the sport, and on Monday he has posthumously been appointed a Member of the Order of Australia (AM).
Since he made his mark on the surfing world, Australians have won 32 of a possible 96 men's and women's world titles, including Tyler Wright's championship last year.
Farrelly didn't set out to be a trailblazer, his daughter Johanna Isherwood said, rather it was chasing his passions that led to the Sydneysider's legendary status.
"He was always very at-one with the water," Isherwood told AAP.
"The water was his domain. Even right to the very end, all he wanted to do was just spend time in the water.
"He was that type of person that he just did what he wanted to do. And he was pretty good at it.
"He just did it out of love and he paved the way for a lot of people that came along after."
Farrelly was inducted into the Sport Australia Hall of Fame in 1985, later entering the surfing walk of fame at California's Huntington Beach in 2007.
After his surfing career, he became a long-time administrator and was the inaugural president of Surfing Australia.
"He helped mould the sport in a certain direction," Isherwood said.
"He was very influential. A lot of people looked to him for his views. His view was always respected."
Farrelly, who died last August, is one of a number of Australian sports figures to be recognised in the Queen's Birthday honours.
Syd Fischer, OBE, one of Australia's most successful sailing competitors, has also been recognised.
Fischer, 90, is a five-time America's Cup challenger and took line honours in two Sydney to Hobart yacht races.
"Since discovering sailing in the early 1960s, Syd's on-water achievements are extraordinary and unlikely to be repeated," Sailing Australia president Matt Allen said.
"His name is on the winner's list of some of the world's greatest regattas.
"He still competes locally with the same passion and precision he has always displayed."
Basketball identity Ian Robilliard has been recognised for his service to sport as an administrator, coach and competitor.
Olympic medallists Karen Stephenson (swimming) and Leon Gregory (athletics) are also on the honours list, as well as former cricketer and administrator John Gannon and rugby league stalwart Warren Smith.
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