To 92-year-old Mr Loftus, who is better known a Bruce, helping is just simply what you do.

"I've always liked to go out helping people, and have never expected any reward whatsoever,"

Mr Loftus assisted his family on their property at a young age and joined the army at 18.

His community contribution began upon retiring to the local area after a 20-year career at the CSIRO.

Mr Loftus was recognised for his contribution to the Manning Valley Seniors Citizens Association and the Taree RSL Sub-branch.

To receive an OAM was quite a surprise for the humble Mr Loftus.

"It came as a shock that's for sure. I was delighted to have received it, I suppose I'd say honoured."

Mr Loftus spent 20 years as the president of the Manning Valley Senior Citizens Assoication.

Starting in 1982, Mr Loftus helped transform the association to the successful social group it is today.

Mr Loftus assisted the association to become less fragmented, by encouraging the different elements of the group such as bowls and art classes to come underneath the one umbrella.

This made for more efficient organisation "...so that when the penny came in, it came into the centre of the group and that's how we got it going."

Mr Loftus looks back at his time with the group with a particular fondness.

"I enjoyed the friendship and having the feeling that your helping someone to do something. A lot of these old people, they're locked up in their home and that's where they stay.

"It gives you a terrific feeling, to know that there's an old lady in that house who never gets out, never does anything, and you bring her out amongst friends and she's enjoying herself and you really see she's had a wonderful day. If that's only once a week, that's something."

Next year, it will have been 70 years since Mr Loftus became a member of the RSL sub-branch.

This time has been filled with numerous fundraising and events.

"If they needed a special occasion on, I used to put on a lot of displays."

Using his army memorabilia Mr Loftus would set up displays for both Taree and Wingham sub-branches.

One of his greatest life moments was shared through an RSL sub-branch event.

Mr Loftus was invited to play in a tennis tournament representing ­ NSW at White City in 1963.

He took out the second division with his old airforce mate, Charlie.

Following this, they had to play two international tennis players.

"We lost, but we gave them a run for their money," chuckles Mr Loftus.

Mr Loftus urges the importance of community contribution to others, especially support of the elderly. "There's not enough support for old people, and it's something you get a lot of satisfaction out of, if you feel like you're helping someone."