His involvement with the community is one of the many reasons he has received an Order of Australia medal.

He said there had been many major influences in allowing him to receive the award, mainly wife Shirley, two children Michael and Tracey and brother Alan.

“It means quite a lot and I’m honoured and very humbled about receiving the award,” he said. “Overall I’ve been involved in so many different things and had a hand in helping so many different people.

"I owe it to those people who worked with me and me working with them that has enabled us to reach this stage where we qualified for this award.”

Mr Uptin has lived in Port Macquarie for more than 70 years, being involved with more than 12 different organisations.

These included, but weren’t limited to, the managing director at the Port Macquarie News, the director of the Port Macquarie RSL Club, deputy mayor of Hastings council, Port Macquarie Surf Life Saving Club, Port Macquarie Race Club and Port Macquarie Golf Club.

“The highlight for me is when you’re involved in something and achieve something,” he said. “I was on the council for seven years and that was an experience - we had our controversies and achieved things at the time.

“Then I’ve gone on and become involved with Panthers. Over the last two years I’ve been helping with the Port Macquarie District family history group compile a history on the bars at the Olympic pool. There’s a wall of tiles there with a name on 494 tiles and we’re writing a history on the name of each tile. When it comes to fruition it will be a wonderful part of our history.”

“Community involvement is a wonderful thing as far as I’m concerned, but what I’m noticing now as the generations change, there are less people getting involved in a voluntary capacity which is the changing of the way life goes these days.”

paul.jobber@fairfaxmedia.com.au