Mr Lewis - a recipient of the Order of Australia Medal last year - was thrilled to be acknowledged as a local hero.

Mr Lewis was born in England in 1932, one of countless children raised in a Dr Barnardos orphanage.

Since arriving in Australia, Mr Lewis earned a reputation as a committed, hard-working and well respected citizen in the Wingecarribee Shire.

Mr Lewis is a committed family man, and he and his wife Bette have two sons and six grandchildren, who all reside in the Highlands area.

Mr Lewis served on the Bowral/Mittagong Meals on Wheels during 1978 to 1999, including five of those years as president.

He served 34 consecutive years in Local Government as a Councillor, including Mayor of Wingecarribee Council from 2004-08.

Mr Lewis is a long-term sportsperson and has been involved in countless other committees and causes.

He was awarded the Order of Australia Medal in recognition of his service to the community of the Southern Highlands region through a range of local government, sporting and service organisations.

Other nominees included school teacher Joan Eberle, community worker Dorothy Hinschen, volunteer Gordon Hughes, cycling advocate Huw Kingston, support carer Patricia O'Keefe and business leader Tony Springett.

Former Moss Vale High School student Leslie Jonson-Hoye was named Wingecarribee young citizen of the year. Considered honest, reliable, mature, punctual and displaying an extremely conscientious work ethic, Leslie won many school awards for leadership, fundraising and IT innovation.

He was on the School Council for five years and has devoted many hours helping the Wingecarribee Adult Day Care Centre as a volunteer, setting up software and hardware systems for the centre. Leslie has also worked for the Red Cross, Moss Vale Show, Lions Club and local bushfire brigades.

Read the full stories in Wednesday's edition of the Southern Highland News.