It has been the guiding light for the 68-year-old, who has been named Macedon Ranges Council's Citizen of the Year.

Honoured today at the Kyneton Town Hall, Mr Shaw received the award 22 years after his father was given the same accolade by the former shire of Romsey.

A tireless volunteer for the Romsey community, Mr Shaw has spent countless hours working for various groups, including as a member of the Romsey Mechanics Hall committee for more than 30 years, an elder with the Romsey Uniting Church, and a meals-on-wheels volunteer. Most recently, he worked with the Victorian Council of Churches as a volunteer in the local Hot Day Out centres during the bushfire season.

"I received a letter [about the nomination] before Christmas and was pretty surprised and quite honoured," a modest Mr Shaw said.

"Someone thought I was worthy of being nominated and so I'm honoured considering my father received it 22 years ago. I didn't expect it, it's quite out of left field. I tend to work behind the scenes and I'm not looking for anything like this, but it is nice to be recognised." Mr Shaw said his father set a good example about the importance of community involvement. "He felt, and I believe the same, that the community is strong if there are good volunteers.

"You can't expect everyone to get paid for what they do and that's the way I see it.

"Volunteering is very important. Not everyone can do it, but if you are able, I think you should. If you want to do something useful, it is rewarding, which is probably why I have kept at it for so long."

A volunteer in Romsey since 1973, Mr Shaw will soon step down as secretary of the Romsey Mechanics Hall.

He names helping to secure about $60,000 in grants to rewire and install natural gas in the 105-year-old building as one of the achievements he is most proud of.

"I have a soft spot for that building," he said.

"We've done something to the place to try to make it more useful for the community.

"It takes a fair bit of work and there's always something to do down there."

While stepping down from the committee, Mr Shaw said he would remain involved in community activities.

"I think it's important that if you are able to, you put back into the community you live in."