Mr Winter said it was a “tremendous honour”.

“It was a shocked and I never expected my name to be called out. I’ve got a love of the land and it’s just natural that I have a love of water and things that help the land as well,” he said.

Mr Winter was honoured with the award for a number of reasons, the main being his involvement with a multiple groups and committees regarding water.

Working with the Gwydir Valley Irrigators Association (GVIA) for a number of years,

Mr Winter said he always strived to keep the “balance” when it came to water.

“There is a social side and natural side of water and when I first started the balance tipped more towards the social, now it’s leaning more on the natural side, so we work with the government to keep it balanced,” he said. 

In the early 90s Mr Winter started working with the Gwydir Water Users Council and is now the vice-chair of the GVIA.

He also assisted cotton growers manage pests.

“A number of years ago I organised an areal shooting of feral pigs just after the wheat harvest and growers would meet and speak about the event. They still meet today and organise shoots,” Mr Winter said.

GVIA representative, Nick Gillingham, described Mr Winter as “the type of person we would love to have more of in our community”.

Mr Gillingham presented Mr Winter with the award.

“He’s been and still is, a very hard working, quiet achiever who has been involved in Gwydir valley cotton industry groups since cotton was first grown in the region,” he said

Mr Winter is also known for his community involvement, including Ashley fire brigade.