WELL-KNOWN Bowral resident Terry Oakes-Ash has been awarded a Medal of the Order of Australia (OAM) for his contribution to the community and to commerce.
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The Highlands identity has worn many hats during his 17 years in the shire including Youth Radio chairman, Mary Poppins Committee chairman, president Southern Highlands Business Chamber and Bowral Chamber of Commerce and board member of the Southern Region Business Enterprise centre, to name a few.
Mr Oakes-Ash said he felt "very humbled" that people believed he was "deserving" of the medal.
"Two weeks before my wife passed away, she said to me, 'I'm aware your name has been put forward for an honour award and these awards take a long while and I won't be here to see you collect it, but you deserve this,'" Mr Oakes-Ash said.
Mr Oakes-Ash said his commitment to the community was as much about giving back as it was about keeping himself active.
"You have to keep your brain active and with my knowledge and experience, I feel that I have a lot to contribute," he said.
This isn't the only recognition Mr Oakes-Ash has received for his long-standing community work, he was also awarded Citizen of the Year in 2007 and received the New South Wales Premier's Award for Community Service in 2011.
Highlanders honoured in the 2016 Australia Day Honours List:
