Mr McCarthy was recognised for his service to the Highlands community, including in cricket.

For nearly 20 years, Mr McCarthy has been a familiar face for cricketers in the region.

Arguably, the Burradoo resident's most impressive achievement has been supporting children with a disability to play cricket.

Mr McCarthy designed the Dream Cricket program in the Highlands in 2011, specifically for children with special needs.

In the past four years, Dream Cricket has spread through four Australian states and has been brought to India, Nepal and Sri Lanka.

Mr McCarthy is also an honorary cricket ambassador for the Bradman Foundation.

He has co-ordinated more than 250 Bradman regional camps and clinics, and helped co-ordinate junior cricket programs in the Highlands, such as Cricket NSW CricHit.

However, Mr McCarthy said he was "very surprised" to receive an OAM.

"I feel top of the world, I'm very humbled," he said.

"There are a lot of people out there who have been doing a lot of work... it's a complete shock."

Mr McCarthy and his wife Judy moved to the Highlands 19 years ago.

The couple became involved in the community through the Bowral Swimming Club, where Mr McCarthy was president from 1995-97.

Outside of sport, Mr McCarthy has been an active community member around the Highlands.

He has been a member of the Rotary Club of Bowral-Mittagong, ambassador of The Movement Disorder Foundation, a member of Macarthur and Berrima Legacy, and part of the Southern Highlands sub-branch of the Vietnam Veterans' Peacekeepers and Peacemakers Association of Australia.

In 2004, he volunteered in a range of re-development roles in Banda Aceh, Indonesia, following a Boxing Day tsunami.

Despite his impressive achievements, Mr McCarthy said his family deserved just as much credit for their support.

"Without the support of my wife Judy and our children Maree, Leanne and Evan, I wouldn't have been able to pursue those things," he said.