His latest chapeau is that of Port Macquarie-Hastings senior citizen of the year 2014.

He joined this newspaper as editor in 1982, retiring from his post on September 29, 2005.

A staunch supporter of the written word and the importance of regional newspapers, he said, at the time: "People said country newspapers would die when radio came along. They didn't. They said television would be the end of country newspapers. It wasn't. Now they say the internet will kill off country newspapers. It won't".

"These awards are wonderful as they reward the people behind the scenes who never get credit, but there are many more out there who don't get nominated," the 50-year volunteer basketball referee said.

The past president of Port Macquarie Rotary Club and past district Governor of Rotary District 9650 was elected to the board of Australian Rotary Health, the nation's largest non government fundraiser for mental illness research, in November last year.

A diligent worker who shows the way by example when it comes to putting in the hard yards, Mr Barber has not only helped thousands of people through his involvement in Rotary, he has also supported our koala population.

"Many people come here from other towns and put their feet up, but Port Macquarie has a lot going for it; people need to get involved in Rotary and Lions Clubs to become more a part of the community."

Rotary Lodge, the Port Macquarie Koala Hospital, Linga Longa Aboriginal Philosophy Farm, Timbertown, Rotary Bowelscan tests, and the lifeguard towers at local beaches, have all benefited from his input.

A founder of Pacific Training Aid, he and wife Glenda, helped raise $60,000 for motor neurone disease research. He is also a patron of the Hastings Fellowship of Australia Writers.