Denis Napthine has been awarded an OM in the Queen's Birthday Honours

Now Denis Napthine can add AO at then end of his name after he was awarded a Member in the General Division of the Order of Australia.

Dr Napthine said one of the most important qualities for a community leader was the ability to listen to the community.

"It's not talking to people, it's listening to people," he said.

"Whether it's down the street or at the local footy match, I always used to walk around with a little Spirax notebook and a pen. At the Tyrendarra footy they'd say they didn't want to bother you because my issue isn't that important.

"I'd just write it down and take it up with the appropriate authorities and get back to people.

"I loved working with people, I enjoy chatting to people and I love listening to their views, their aspirations and you learn so much from that."

Dr Napthine said he was thrilled and surprised when he was told of the honour.

He said his mother and father led by example through their service to their community.

"They were farmers in Winchelsea and had 10 children," he said.

"Even though they had 10 children and a large farm they were still actively involved in everything in their local community. There was this real culture of service to the community."

Although Dr Napthine started his career as a vet it was politics which provided a pathway to make a difference in his community.

"I think whether it be in my pre-political life or during my politics it was always about working with the community to make the community a better place and that's been my ethos all the way through," he said.

He said there was an enormous amount of satisfaction to be gained by supporting local communities.

"Whether it be helping a person or family that have some issues or working with a local town or working across the region that's what it's all about," he said.

"It's making the community a better place and it gives you enormous personal satisfaction."

Dr Napthine was the Member for South-West Coast from 2002-2015. He served as deputy leader of the Victorian Liberal Party and leader of the party from 1999-2002 and 2013-14.

He has also been a patron of Solve Disability Solutions, patron of the Friends of the Great South West Walk, former chair of South West Residential Services Association and remains the number one ticket holder of the Tyrendarra Football and Netball Club.

Dr Napthine said the support he'd received from his wife Peggy and their three sons Jack, Edward and Tom had allowed him to pursue the work he had.

"It has been a whole of family support, I've been fortunate," he said.

"Even more so of not only having that support but having a family that shares those values.. instead of begrudging my contribution they've said yeah you've got to do that.

"Jack, who was our foster child and is autistic, and that opened enormous fields in terms of knowledge and things that gave me broader experiences that stood me in good stead and my sons Edward and Tom, both worked in disability area as teenagers."

Dr Napthine said he encouraged people in south-west Victoria to nominate volunteers for the Queen's Birthday Honours.

"I would urge people to nominate people in our region who are the hard working volunteers who make a difference in our community," he said.

"Our level of volunteerism is among the highest in the world."