The Hills Shire Council announced last week that this year's ambassadors were Paul Brock and Gabi Hollows.

Dr Brock is the director of learning and development research at the NSW Department of Education and Communities, and adjunct professor in the faculty of education and social work at Sydney University, an honorary research fellow at the New England University of New England and an honorary associate in the Centre for Values Ethics and Law in Medicine in the faculty of medicine at Sydney University.

He's also vice patron of the Motor Neurone Disease Association NSW, a life member of the English Teachers Association NSW and the Primary English Teachers Association, and the inaugural honorary life member of the NSW Secondary Principals Council.

In his 44-year career in education he's been a school teacher, deputy principal, an academic in Australian, British and North American universities and an education policy advisor to federal and state governments, as well as an author, editor and public speaker.

He has researched and published in the field of English literature, language and literacy as well as in the area of professional teaching standards and ethics.

His PhD was conferred on him by the University of New England in 1985.

In 2006 the then NSW Education Minister awarded Dr Brock the 2006 Meritorious Service Award and Medal for Service to Public Education in NSW: the highest award that is given within NSW public education.

Dr Brock lives in Castle Hill and will take part in the shire's Australia Day ceremony at Castle Towers.

Gabi Hollows will take part in the Hills' main Australia Day event at Balcombe Heights Estate from 4pm.

Mrs Hollows worked on the National Trachoma and Eye Health Program from 1976 and visited more than 465 remote indigenous communities in three years, screening for and treating eye disease.

She married Fred Hollows in 1980 and they had five children.

Dr Hollows developed cancer and Mrs Hollows helped found The Fred Hollows Foundation, while still running a household of young children and taking care of her husband.

Since Dr Hollows' death in early 1993, Mrs Hollows has continued to work for the foundation in her role as founding director.

Through her work with the foundation, Mrs Hollows has received an Advance Australia Award for Community Service and a Paul Harris Fellowship from Rotary International and has been named one of Australia's 100 Living National Treasures.

Mrs Hollows is passionate about children and education and has a close association with Rotary, becoming an honorary member in 2006.