“I feel very humbled and a bit taken aback by it all,” Mr Crawford said this week.

“Really, it doesn’t get much

better than this.”

Mr Crawford, who will turn 82 in April, said he would be thinking of his late wife Barbara - who died on Australia Day five years ago - when he celebrates his award.

“She was always very supportive of the community work I was doing,” he said.

Mr Crawford’s community work dates back to 1956 when he lived in Cowra.

“That’s 52 years ago which is a very long time,” he said.

“I was invited to be part of the local ‘Queen’ competition raising money for Camperdown Children’s Hospital.

“I have always liked doing something for the community though - whether it was in Cowra, Canowindra, Caloola or Kelso, wherever I have lived.

“It’s nice to be able to give the community something back. I feel this award is recognition for all those wonderful committees throughout the country areas ... and I can tell you there’s heaps of them.

“All volunteers try to make life a bit better in rural locations.”

Mr Crawford served with the Australian Imperial Forces from 1945-47.

Over the years he’s had involvement with the Canowindra branch of the Spastic Council, Canowindra Chamber of Commerce, was foundation president of the Canowindra Apex Club, a member of a number of bush fire brigades and a councillor with Evans Shire for more than 20 years.

He also served on the former Southern Mitchell County Council for 15 years, was a director of the Bathurst Rural Lands Protection Board, member of the Bathurst Probus Club, a member of Bathurst Legacy, Deputy to the Sheriff of NSW at the Bathurst Court House, trustee of the Caloola Union Church an and received a 50-year service certificate for Freemasonry in

2006.