Mr and Mrs Oakes-Ash were married on Easter Sunday, 1959, in All Saints Church, Tacolneston, Norfolk, UK.

Their daughters Elizabeth, Caroline and Rachel, were born in England.

The Oakes-Ash family migrated to Australia in 1970 as "ten pound Poms", arriving on March 1.

Mr Oakes-Ash recalls downing his first beer in Australian after he touched down in Darwin in the last of the 707s.

Although relatives they joined in Sydney later returned to the UK, Mr and Mrs Oakes-Ash made Australia their home and became citizens in 1987.

As managing director for Boral Resources Ltd, Mr Oakes-Ash travelled extensively, overseeing a third of the company's operation.

Among many other roles, he chaired the NSW Chamber of Mines, was vice president of the Australian Road Federation, and a director of the NSW Employers Federation and was president of the Construction Industry Institute, based at the Queensland University of Technology.

They lived in Brisbane for seven years before returning to Sydney and nine years ago moving to the Southern Highlands.

Mr Oakes-Ash, a former Trustee of the Australian Koala Foundation and President of the South Brisbane Apex Club, has continued his community involved in the Southern Highlands serving as president of the Bowral Chamber of Commerce and currently president of the Southern Highlands Business Chamber, vice chairman of Challenge Southern Highlands, and a director of the Illawarra Business Chamber and GROW Area Consultative Committee.

He also led the "Back A Bushie Anglicare Appeal" for the Upper Lachlan Shire.

Mr Oakes-Ash was named Wingecarribee Shire Citizen of the Year in 2007.

Mr and Mrs Oakes-Ash have found time to travel extensively, visiting Alaska, Canada and the United State, the United Kingdom, Europe, Asia and China.

They have five grandchildren.