Mr McPhee was named in the Australia Day honours in 2020, earning himself a Medal of the Order of Australia.

However, the official award ceremony which was due to be held earlier this year had to be postponed amid the coronavirus pandemic.

Now that NSW is starting to come to terms with the "new way of living" and travel around the state has been allowed again, Mr McPhee and members of his family were able to travel to Sydney to Government House where he was officially presented with his medals and honours.

Almost nine months to the date of Australia Day, Mr McPhee met with Governor of NSW Margaret Beazley for a small, socially distanced ceremony, also attended by his wife Mary and daughter Ruth.

Mr McPhee's background is in teaching and student counselling for the last 20 years at St Francis College - a place he calls his second home.

He received the Medal of the Order of Australia for his many areas of work, including with working with youth and mental health, social justice in Leeton and the wider global community.

The Order of Australia recognises citizens and other persons for achievement or meritorious service.

Mr McPhee's community work is extensive and isn't just limited to Leeton shire.

He is a current member of the Friends of Luro and Leeton Multicultural groups and, over the years has found himself, and his family, helping others in countries overseas.

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This has included being a volunteer teacher in Papua New Guinea on two separate occasions, living there with his wife Mary and their children.

Mr McPhee is a current volunteer with Palms Australia, the co-founder of the Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults in 1992 and an ecumenical monitor for justice and peace during the 1994 election in South Africa.

He was also a volunteer with Rural Australians for Refugees from 2000 to 2004.

The ceremony at Government House was a thrill for the McPhee family, but also a wonderful tribute to Mr McPhee who spends his life making sure those around him are well looked after.