A resident of Gundy for 30 years, Mr Cooke has contributed to the communities of Gundy, Scone and, in particular, Aberdeen, as a founding member of the Aberdeen Highland Games.

“His Scottish ancestry was a catalyst for his involvement in the Aberdeen Highland Games, an event that evolved to assist in bonding the community after the closure of the local meat works more than 10 years ago,” Upper Hunter Shire mayor Lee Watts said.

Receiving the McLoughlin award Mr Cooke told the crowd gathered in the Scone council chambers that it was an honour.

“I’ve lived in small rural communities most of my life and the citizens of those areas are for the better part treated by state and federal government pretty much as second rate citizens,” Mr Cooke said.

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“If you want anything you have to get out there and make a noise and do it yourself.”

Mr Cooke is a founding member of groups including the Upper Hunter Education Fund, Gundy Anzac Day and Gala Day committees, Gundy Community, Pages and Isis Catchments Water Users Group and Scone RSL Pipes and Drums.

It was his commitment to playing the bass drum in the pipe band that almost caused Mr Cooke to miss the announcement that he was citizen of the year.

Scone RSL Pipe Band’s first outing was Australia Day in Scone 16 years ago. They’ve played there ever since and at Murrurundi celebrations afterwards.

After the McLoughlin award presentation, he flung the trophy at his wife of nearly 40 years, Kerry Cooke, a teacher at Scone Grammar School, and they headed out bound for Murrurundi.

Council staff chased them and convinced Mr Cooke to come back in.

He declined to speak again after receiving the top award.

“I was rather humbled by the whole experience, including just being nominated,” Mr Cooke said.

“I didn’t believe I had done that much but I’ve got a few years up now.

“I was the only person up there in a kilt so you won’t have any trouble identifying me,” he told the Hunter Valley News.

The third generation of his family to live in the Scone district, Mr Cooke works part time in insurance and runs cattle on his property Long Hill.