WHILE the world was focused on Cate Blanchett receiving an honorary award at Macquarie University in Sydney, a more familiar face in the Clarence Valley was relishing the same honour.

Highly respected Yaegl elder Uncle Ron Heron arrived at Macquarie University clad in academic robes to receive his Doctorate of Letters at 2.30pm last Tuesday.

The highest academic achievement in humanities, his award recognised his extraordinary contribution to the endeavours of the university through science, education and leadership, and his ongoing research into native bush medicines.

Vice-Chancellor Professor S. Bruce Dowton said Uncle Ron provided a remarkable example of the power of education; not only in his own life but in how he has touched and shaped so many others.

Seven of his family members were flown to the university with him for the special occasion.

"It was the first time for me to have all my family there, and it was nice to have them by my side," he said.

With an extensive history in archeology and anthropology, the Clarence Valley elder already had two degrees to his name prior to last week's addition.

The first was a Bachelor of Arts in 1990 and the second a Bachelor of Letters in prehistory and anthropology, both from the Australian National University in Canberra.

"I lived there for six years and came home with two degrees," Uncle Ron said.

He went on to become a lecturer in Indigenous Studies, archeology and anthropology at the Southern Cross University in Lismore for 10 years, and in this time played a major part in progressing native title claims at Byron Bay and Evans Head.

Unfortunately, a dramatic health event cut his career short in 2000. "One day I was chairing a meeting and I had a stroke," he said.

"I'm getting better and better now, but that's why I got involved with bush foods, bush medicines, things like that.

"We were always told what foods were good, and what was good for medicine - it was all part of growing up.

Uncle Ron's research led to the development of the long running and successful River of Learning celebrations at Maclean High School.

Now in its seventh year, the River of Learning program is a one-week course taught to all Year 7 students at the school.

Uncle Ron is a dedicated teacher who has volunteered his time from the beginning, teaching students about traditional fish traps, bush tucker and medicines.

"The entire school now have been on those school trips," he said.

"Life is boring when you do nothing."