Owen was named Citizen of ther Year for his work as a volunteer driver for Flexible Care Services Inc.

Since 2001, Owen has been driving local residents to medical appointments in the region and further afield to places such as Syndey Canberra and Wagga Wagga.

Pat Thurkettle, Flexicare Services manager, said she estimates that Owen makes up to 150 trips a year and puts in up to 2000 hours a year driving people to appointments.

She said he puts in more time as a volunteer driver each year than someone working a normal fulltime job. He often starts driving at 6am or 7am in the mornings often does not get home until late in the afternoons.

"He is a very modest an unassuming man," she said.

She said, however, that it was not just his driving that had earnt him the respect of the community. It was the kind and gentle manner he had with the people he was driving that made him shad earnt olel

Owen's award was very well deserved she said.