Having been recognised within Rotary with the Service Above Self award, Mr Wilcox can now add Order of Australia (General Division) to his impressive resume.

Mr Wilcox said he was surprised to be included in the Queen's Birthday honours.

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"Really surprised ... [to have] received something in the Australian honors was, was a surprise and you know it's very proud to to be nominated by by someone and obviously selected," he said.

It's a lengthy list of achievements headlined by serving as a Rotary Australia director since 2019, a and being the district governor of Rotary Tasmania in 2012-13 as well as being the secretary of Rotary Longford for over 20 years.

After lengthy Rotary career, which has seen Mr Wilcox play a crucial role across several key positions, he said it was the opportunity to help others which kept him going.

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"I think, for me, volunteering has always been about using my knowledge and the skills to be able to do things to help others," he said.

"I guess awards like that, do, do come as a result it's not something you look for but it's really good, nice I think to be, to be recognised."

Through his roles with Rotary, Mr Wilcox has ventured out to Nepal and China, which he said was an eye-opening experience.

"I was part of a team that went to the People's Republic of China for a friendship, visit in 1989 and that was just six months after the end of the Tiananmen Square Massacre," he said

"I think that showed me then as to the value and the power of service organisations to, to meet other people to talk to them and to get to understand."

Outside of Rotary, Mr Wilcox is a popular community member within Longford and has helped out the Longford Events Committee and Longford Football Club among other organisations.

At the football club, Mr Wilcox carries out the crucial end of season role by conducting the best player count at the best and fairest.

"Getting there and knowing what the result is with watching the drama and follows the counts go through, it's not quite the Brownlow medal but that is pretty important to to local footballers," he said.

After three decades of service with Rotary, Mr Wilcox has learnt some valuable life lessons through volunteering.

"Seeing other people who are in need and seeing how much they can benefit from what you can DO, even just just small things," he said.

"I think, being involved with Rotary certainly made me a different, a better person for my involvement."

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