Australia Day 2020 awards: Bill Warburton OAM

"Tamworth has been pretty good to me," he said.

Mr Warburton is honoured this Australia Day with a Medal of the Order of Australia for his service to the community.

He moved to Tamworth 50 years ago as an accountant and, in that time, he's looked after the "dollars and cents" side of many charitable organisations.

He has contributed greatly to the Rotary Club of Tamworth, Westpac Rescue Helicopter Service, Billabong Clubhouse, Farrer school committee and Australian Country Music Foundation.

Mr Warburton said many of the organisations he volunteered for were "close to the heart" - like the chopper service.

"I sadly lost my son in a motor accident in 1994," he said.

"The chopper had to come from Newcastle to Warialda to take him to Tamworth. Who knows, if one had been in Tamworth at the time, the situation may have been different.

"The Tamworth community rallied around us when we lost our boy."

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Along with being close to his heart, Mr Warburton said volunteering had another benefit.

"I enjoy it - and it keeps me off the streets and from getting into too much mischief," he said with a wry chuckle.

Mr Warburton said he was "pretty gobsmacked" to find out he would receive an OAM.

"I said to my eldest, 'Why me? There are so many people out there more deserving,'" he said.

Mr Warburton said he understood the time pressures modern families faced but would love to see more people volunteering.

"There's something for everyone. Whatever you're passionate about, there's something you can volunteer for," he said.

"We'll always find a job for you, whatever your skillset."

Mr Warburton joked that he might be able to throw around his OAM to get more people to volunteer with him.

"It's a great honour - I'll be able to show off to some of my mates," he said, laughing.