"I honestly get more out of it than I've ever put in," were the words of Coonabarabran's Peter Shinton who was awarded an OAM in the recent King's Birthday Honour's list.

However, one glance at Mr Shinton's long resume of community service and it's clear it is his beloved local region that has benefited the most.

Mr Shilton's honour came for service to local government, and to the community of Coonabarabran. He said he was "totally surprised" to be nominated and even more so when he received the email saying he would be one the country's latest recipients of The Medal of the Order of Australia.

Mr Shinton began his working life as a geologist, travelling around Australia to various locations, including searching for uranium in South Australia during the Don Dunstan era. Mr Shinton changed career direction in 1979, turning to farming in the Coonabarabran area.

Mr Shinton was active in community sport for many years, holding the role of Chairperson of the North West Equestrian Expo, and treasurer of both the Castlereagh Amateur Turf Club and Coonabarabran Rugby Club. He was also a committee member of the Purlewaugh Cricket club until 1990.

"I probably have one of the only surviving caps from the grand final," Mr Shinton said.

He said his long involvement in council came quite unexpectedly.

"I was watching a council grader go along the road near one of our paddocks," he said. "It removed something from a water pipe and that night it rained and rained and the water was diverted across our land. The water ended up digging a trench three and a half metres deep and six metres wide across our paddock.

"When the council all came out, one of them handed me a brochure and said - you may need this. It was a pamphlet about becoming a councillor."

Mr Shinton said he thought about it and decided to have a go, becoming a councillor for the Coonabarabran Shire in 1995.

He became Mayor in 2004, just prior to the amalgamation with Coolah Shire and remained in that position until 2018.

The local government sector is not the only place Mr Shinton has offered input into his community.

He was a committee member on the Northern Inland Regional Advisory Committee for NSW National Parks and Wildlife Service, and also the Association of Mining and Energy related councils as well as a board member for RDA Orana.

Mr Shinton was Captain of the Yaminbah RFS Brigade for 25 years, from 1979 - 2004. He said his involvement as a volunteer in the devastating bushfire of 2013 in the Warrumbungle and another at Dunedoo remained significant in his memories.

"Around 50 houses were lost in the Warrumbungles, along with the lodge at the Siding Spring Observatory. The destruction was terrible."

In his role as Mayor, Mr Shinton was on hand to reopen the new lodge in 2017.

The prestigious OAM will add to Mr Shinton's other awards of Emeritus Mayor and Outstanding Service Award, Local Government New South Wales, (2017), Outstanding Achievement in Volunteering, National Parks and Wildlife Service (2017), and Life Member of the Association of Mining and Energy Councils.

Anyone thinking this well deserved award will see Mr Shinton rest on his laurels would be incorrect. He currently volunteers for Meals on Wheels and is a driver for Community Care in Coonabarabran.

"My wife and I have just joined Rotary as well," Mr Shinton said. "So that's opened up a whole new lot of possibilities. Currently I'm in charge of Youth Affairs which is interesting to say the least."

The big question is, will Mr Shinton find enough spare time to attend the presentation of his OAM at Government House in September!