Neil Wilkinson awarded OAM for service to the community

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Neil Wilkinson's philosophy in life has always been that if you put a lot in, you'll get a lot out.

This is exactly what he's done through a massive contribution to each community he's been a part of – and why he has been recognised with an Order of Australia Medal in the Australia Day honours list.

When Mr Wilkinson received the call from Canberra, in September, he broke out in tears of joy in the Murray Bridge nursing home, Romani, where he now resides.

"One of the nurses asked what had gone wrong; I said 'nothing, something has actually gone incredibly right,'" he said.

Mr Wilkinson was recognised for his endless service toward the Berri, Barossa and Fleurieu communities.

He was born in Berri in 1933, where he went through junior and high school before completing his tertiary education at Roseworthy Agricultural College.

In 1954, straight after college, he went to Melbourne to undertake National Service in the air force.

He then spent most his career in the wine industry, buying his family's horticulture property, then moving to Tanunda in the Barossa to take up a job at Orlando Wines.

There he was appointed national vineyard manager before moving to viticulture and general service manager, and finally operations director for Orlando Wyndham Group.

In 1986 Mr Wilkinson was made a Baron of the Barossa for his services to the industry and community.

In 1990 he went into an early retirement with his wife Margaret, at Encounter Bay.

"One of my most proudest experiences is the formation of the Fleurieu Cancer Support Foundation," he said.

"My wife got cancer in 2001 ... and following that a few of us set up a cancer support group, because there was no support down there."

Mr Wilkinson was the inaugural president and foundation member of the Fleurieu Cancer Support Foundation.

"(The group) now runs four cars up to Adelaide daily, taking patients for treatment," he said.

Unfortunately Mrs Wilinkinson lost her battle with cancer 17 years ago.

"The cancer foundation is what gives me the most reward," he said.

Mr Wilkinson had been visiting Romani for many years with a friend, whose mother recently turned 104, before he himself became a resident.

"My legs collapsed and I couldn't move ... we couldn't get into something which I liked in Victor Harbor ... so having known this place, I decided to come here," he said.

"It gives me pride that I've been able to do those things and give something back to the community, which is a straight volunteer philosophy."