ASHLEY McKay's long dedication to campdrafting has been recognised with the awarding of a Medal of the Order of Australia (OAM) in the Queen's Birthday Honours List.
Mr McKay from Cherry Hills, Injune, was the founding president of the Australian Campdraft Association, a position he held from 1972 to 1982. He then served as ACA vice-president for a further 10 years.
The fierce competitor's contribution also included founding the ACA News magazine, which helped spread the word of the fast growing sport, and penning The ACA Adventure, a book commemorating the first 25 years of the organisation.
"It's particularly pleasing that the competition rules we adopted back then are still 95 per cent complete and the constitution we adopted remains largely intact," Mr McKay said.
"The ACA was two years in the planning but it wasn't a bad effort for 27 people to achieve in one day."
Mr McKay said the ACA was formed out of the frustration competitors experienced at events held by independent committees.
"It was just Rafferty's rules," Mr McKay said.
"Committees could stage any contest, use any rules, and could appoint anyone as a judge.
"The formation of the ACA brought rules that were uniform and standard to the sport across Australia.
"We were fortunate from the outset that we had a very hard core, very dedicated group of people that shared a vision, share a dream, and were willing to take positions on the board."
They included Col Dennis, Clermont, Tom Warrian, Injune, Frank Mitchell, Winton, Bill Gleeson, Alpha, and Ken Wormell, Roma. Mr McKay also paid tribute to his wife Doris, who was the inaugural secretary of the fledgling organisation.
The ACA now boasts 10,000 members Australia wide, making in one of the nation's largest horse sports alongside Thoroughbred racing and Pony Club.
Mr McKay, who still competes and serves as a judge, also acted as an instructor for the fast paced sport.
He also served as the chairman of the Australian Stock Horse Society's Warrego Branch.
Mr McKay is also well known in active role in agripolitics. He was a former board member of the Cattleman's Union of Australia and later was a founding member of Property Rights Australia.