It was a career change that's paid off for the author and historian, who has received a Medal of the Order of Australia (OAM) for his work recording the history of Australian rail transportation, and his work detailing the history of exploration in Antarctica.

The honour was a humbling moment for the former journalist, who is used to being the storyteller rather than the story subject.

"You just do these things, I never thought I'd be getting a medal for it," he said.

Entering the media through radio, David went on to a cadetship at the Melbourne Herald and Sun, and has worked for the Young Sun, Sun News Pictorial and the Sydney Morning Herald.

David also holds the honour of being the first Australia journalist to travel to Antarctica in 1958, and has since made six journeys to that part of the world.

"Antarctica is so awesome, dangerous and forbidding, it's larger than life and makes man very much a midget," says David of his Antarctic fascination.

After moving out of journalism to pursue his career in writing, David's dual interests in railway history and Antarctic exploration inspired 19 books, with David currently working on his 20th.

He has written 12 books on Australia's rail history, two books on Antarctic exploration, as well as children's books, novels and a musical drama about Antarctic exploration, Great Scott.