Richard Chugg can now count himself among a rare group who have achieved the honour after he was named a recipient of the Medal of the Order of Australia.  

It comes more than 20 years after he was awarded an Australian Police Medal for his work within Tasmania Police. 

Mr Chugg said it was difficult to compare the awards.

“I’m very humbled by both to be honest,” he said.

“I just tried to do my best during my time within the police force, and someone must have thought I was doing alright.

“The OAM is much more about the voluntary work I have done, which I definitely don’t do for any sort of recognition.

“One man on his own rarely achieves much, and that has been the case with me.

“I’ve always had plenty of support.”

Born in Launceston, Mr Chugg spent time in St Mary’s, Burnie and Hobart as part of the police force, eventually retiring from his role as Assistant Commissioner in 1995.

His Rotarian career began in 1980, when he helped form the Evandale Rotary Club with one of his relatives. 

As with his professional career, he managed to move around within the organisation, completing stints at the Rotary Club of Burnie and the Rotary Club of Sullivans Cove.

Having occupied the role of Evandale president from 1982 until 1983 and again in 2011 until 2012, the 79-year-old said he enjoyed watching the organisation change with the times.

“With the growth of organisations comes evolution, and Rotary hasn’t been immune to that,” he said.

“Some have been for the better and some I have questioned, but a lot of the time, it is about facing the inevitable.

“There is always going to be change and if you’re not part of it, then you are left behind.”

Mr Chugg’s community influence has also extended to Woolmer’s Estate, where he is a board member.