The charismatic, yet caring and humble Salvation Army volunteer has been awarded an OAM for his dedication to the cause and for his service to the community.
Age is no barrier for Charles who is currently a volunteer councillor at Aldvilla Correctional Centre in Kempsey offering support to prisoners.
He is also an active supporter of juveniles in custody and prisoners on remand at Port Macquarie Police Station, and has been a court chaplain on hand to help out those in need at Port Macquarie and Kempsey Court Houses since 1998.
Charles has been a retired resident in Port for 30 years, but it seems that his schedule is on the constant build, with new community projects and ways of giving back, forever filling his daily agenda.
And he loves every moment of it.
“Behind every face there’s a story,” he said. “If someone needs me I’m there to hear their story and help.”
Receiving an OAM came as a surprise to Charles, who said, there are “plenty of people out there who do good — oodles of them — who also deserve credit too”.
Charles actually puts his lovely wife Ailsa on that pedestal too.
Both were founding members of the local Salvos’ branch back in 1980 and have been active members since its inception.
Despite recent illness, Charles is back on the bandwagon of selfless giving, although he refuses to see it as that.
“God had a hand in all this,” he said.
“I get great satisfaction out of what I do, so it’s a real honour to be acknowledged for it — truly.”
