Now with a population of around 40, Wanaaring has produced its second Order of Australia Medal recipient*, this time for services to the local community.

Raymond Hughston, known as Bruce, moved to the village 200 kilometres west of Bourke with his family as a twenty-one year old.

Originally from near Taree, he had been working with his father as a commercial migratory beekeeper, following the honey flow over parts of NSW and Queensland.

“In 1964 Dad and I eventually decided to travel out west to the channel country of Wanaaring on the Paroo,” said Mr Hughston.

“We came here as a typical shift, with the intention to work the honey flow and move onto the next district.”

However by working the different plants native to the region, they found they could have honey production for about eight months of the year.

Their nomadic life over, the family settled into the town moving all their hives into the area, buying houses and building a factory.

For Mr Hughston, and his family, part of settling in was stepping up to help the community – through involvement with the RFS, SES, Progress Association, Tennis Club, Golf Club, river water associations, public facilities management and generally being an active community volunteer to this day.

“I like helping where I can, and although it took a lot of time it gave me pleasure,” said Mr Hughston, who believes his wife Lee is just as deserving of the award as he is.

She has not only given guidance behind the scenes but has been hands on herself, often working with him.

From 2011-15, they were the village’s ambulance volunteers and first responders (until the service closed). And while, at 82, Mr Hughston has been Captain of the region’s Wamprelea Rural Fire Brigade since 2017, Mrs Hughston is still serving as his Senior Deputy Captain.

“We have really a skeleton crew now. If there was anyone else there to do the position I would step down,” he said.

“I can see it is going to be quite a problem to maintain the brigades in remote rural areas. A lot of people seem to busy now, but you can always make time if you want to. It’s a very rewarding experience to be there for your community.”

* The first recipient was Joan Myers, for services to the CWA.