Forbes local Norm Haley, whose community involvement spans decades, has been recognised for his contribution to life in Forbes, receiving the Forbes Senior Citizen of the Year honour.
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You'll often see Norm down at the Forbes Men's Shed, which he has championed as the organisation's president since 2011.
Norm said in his acceptance speech that receiving this award is a big honour.
"I guess we all work hard for different things but you don't towards this goal, it's a special result and I am really proud to join the previous winners over many years.
"There's one person I'd really like to thank and that's my good wife [Gloria] who's stood behind in most of these activities I've been involved in," Norm said.
"We've both been involved in the Forbes Show for quite a bit [of] time.
"This is my 46th year, but in that time Gloria became Treasurer just before I became President and she was there for 13 years, so its been a bit of a team effort," Norm said.
"We've enjoyed all of the work we've done and of late the Forbes Community Men's Shed has probably been my forte.
"There's a couple of people there I would really like to thank because they've got a big share in this award and that's Peter Norris and Ray New," Norm added.
"We three were elected as 'constructees' of the new concept and we've now been there almost three years getting it to where it is today and we're pretty proud of it."
Norm said the Men's Shed is there for the Forbes community and they would to see everyone come along and have a look.
The official opening of the new Forbes Men's Shed facility will take place at the end of March or start of April depending on COVID-19 regulations.
Along with his contributions for the Forbes Men's Shed, Norm is a life member of the Forbes PA and H Association and an active member of the Friends of Forbes Hospital Auxiliary.
Norm said his involvement in community groups goes back to his young days when he started playing local basketball at 13 and continued until he was 53.
During his time involved in Forbes basketball, Norm became a president of the basketball association and was involved in forming Lachlan conferences.
Norm also became a basketball referee for three years and served as a Lachlan conference coordinator for seven years. Along with jumping in to help in local basketball, Norm has previously coached junior cricket and and helped out in Little Athletics in the early 1970's.
In 1975 Norm joined the Forbes P A and H Association where he served in various roles including as the association's President for eight years and 13 years as the Treasurer.
After stepping down as the president of the Forbes P A and H Association, Norm served a three year term as the Group 6 president.
During his time serving in these community groups, Norm said he has met so many terrific people.
Along with his involvement with basketball and in the local show society Norm has been involved in the the National Grain Harvest since the end of the 1990's.
While serving as the National Grain Harvest between 2005-08, Norm had experience with the RTA in the formation of a Field Day. The Field Day aims to bring representatives together from the RMS and Highway Patrol with members of the community who need to move heavy equipment on the road.
In 2008, Norm joined the Forbes Men's Shed which had recently formed and played a large part in getting them set up at the Forbes Showground.
Norm has been the president of the Forbes Men's Shed since 2011 and has been a driving forces in moving the group into their new purpose-built facility.
Norm said he would like to thank the members of the Forbes Men's Shed for their support.
