Ross Matheson named 2019 Citizen of the Year in the Hawkesbury Australia Day Awards

Mr Matheson is well-known for his volunteer work with the Hawkesbury District Agricultural Association (HDAA) - a not-for-profit group which manages and operates the Hawkesbury Showground at Clarendon, and puts on the annual Hawkesbury Show.

Mr Matheson is president of the HDAA and has been volunteering with the group for over 40 years, during which time he has been a committee member and director for 30 years, vice president for 10 years, and deputy president for two years.

Mr Matheson said the award came as a complete surprise, and he acknowledged his family for always being by his side.

“I’ve got four kids and 12 grandkids, and they’ve done all sorts of things to help out where possible, and my wife’s always been with me,” he said.

“I’d also like to thank the Hawkesbury Show Committee. Everyone puts in different amounts of participation and people work in different ways and at different levels and everyone’s doing their bit, which is what makes it such a success.”

Despite being involved in a chainsaw accident in 1984 which severely injured his arm, Mr Matheson is still a champion volunteer.

“I’ve had a couple of operations and had very limited use of my left arm, and honestly it’s the people around me - my wife and family - that have been my left arm all that time,” he said.

Mr Matheson is a life member of the North Richmond Cricket Club and the District Cricket Association.

“I just think if you’re going to do something, you should put your maximum effort into it,” Mr Matheson said.

“Sometimes you don’t always do what everyone agrees with, but if you’ve got the conviction to make something work, you’ve got to go with it and make it work.”

Mr Matheson’s grandfather, father and mother were all involved in the Hawkesbury Show Committee.

“In a way, I think I was probably born into it, like my kids have been,” he said.