Chris Dooley loves the community he has been voluntarily serving for more than five decades.
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The Vacy man has been awarded a Medal of the Order of Australia (OAM) for his service to the Gresford community.
Mr Dooley was surprised to learn he was to receive the honour.
“I don’t think I deserve anything like this,” he said.
“I love Australia and to get this on Australia Day is very special.”
He credits his wife of 48 years, Marianne, for giving him the support needed to be so involved in their community.
His community work includes being the current patron of the Gresford District Agricultural Society of which he has been a member and volunteer for more than 50 years.
He has been chief steward for 10 shows and the camp drafting steward for more than 40 shows.
Mr Dooley has been a member of the Gresford District Bushman's Carnival Association for 25 years.
His work with the NSW Rural Fire Service’s Vacy brigade has seen him hold positions of deputy captain from 1967-1980; treasurer from 1970-1975 and a volunteer for 20 years from 1962-1982.
A former patron of the Gresford Junior Cricket Club, he was a coach for more than 18 years during which time his sons Patrick, Damian and Geread played.
He also saw a few years as the junior soccer coach for Gresford/Vacy between 1984 and 1987. He was president of the Parents and Citizens, Vacy Primary School, from 1986-1992 and chief steward of the popular Vacy Charity Cutting Day since 2009.
