“It wasn’t fair, he would have been so happy to receive this,” Mrs Murrell said.

Edward Murrell received an Order of Australia (OAM) for service to the community of the Dungog Shire, to local government, and to emergency service organisations.

He passed away on March 3 last year aged 74.

Ted came moved to Halton as a young child with his parents and since then has called the Gresford-Vacy area home.

He was just 14 when he joined then Bushfire Brigade and gave his life to the organisation, rising to be fire control office from 1986 to 2001 when he retired.

“He said he was pleased to be out of it, but I knew different,” Mrs Murrell said.

“A life member of Greford [Rural Fire Service], he stayed interested in the group but didn’t want to go along in case it looked as though he was interfering.

“He was also passionate about the Gresford Showground and Recreation Reserve Trust and became chairman in 2005 when Jim Dooley passed away.

“Three weeks before he died he was slashing the park.

“He was also an active member of the Gresford Show Society for 46 years.”

Ted also immersed himself into other activities including setting up boy scouts in Gresford (he was the inaugural scout master) and initiating the Lostock Scout Camp.

Among many other community interests he was also state delegate of the Australian Native Fish Association for 35 years, social secretary of Gresford Bowling Club for 13 years and director for eight years, member Gresford Freemasons (Lodge Allyn) from 1960-1987 and founding member of Gresford District Youth Group from 1952-1956.

He also served one term as councillor on Dungog Shire Council.

“He loved being involved in everything but the bushfire brigade and the park trust were the two big things in his life,” Mrs Murrell said.

“If only he had been here to see this.”