The 74-year-old's parents Robert and Edna taught him the importance of helping others.

Mr Johnson, who grew up in Woolsthorpe, received an Order of Australia medal on Monday for his service to golf and the community.

"I feel very humbled by it," he said.

Mr Johnson said he wished his father, who was a volunteer on the Koroit Hospital Board for 48 years, had been recognised for his service before he passed away.

"I had a lot of foundations from my parents growing up (about giving back)," he said.

Mr Johnson, who now lives in Maffra, moved to Melbourne at age 20 for a job with the Commonwealth Bank. He was secretary of the 1^st Woolsthorpe Scout Group from 1965 to 1966 and leader of the 15^th North Moorabbin Scout Group and 6^th Central Moorabbin Scout Group form 1967 to 1973.

Mr Johnson has also volunteered for the Australian Jaycees, Bentleigh Juniors Football Club, he was an integration aide at Oakleigh South Primary School and was a volunteer driver at the Melbourne Commonwealth Games. He has been a member of the Brighton Golf Club for 30 years, taking on the role of president on a number of occasions.

Mr Johnson was also president of the Victorian Golf League from 2013 to 2019.

However, his most rewarding role to date has been volunteering as a driver for Red Cross Australia since 2011.

"My daughter asked me at breakfast which role was the most rewarding and I would have to say patient transport for the Red Cross," he said.

Mr Johnson has only recently relocated to be closer to family and said he planned to volunteer for the Red Cross in Maffra. He is father to Chris, Simon and Larissa, who he had with his late wife Barbara. She was a teacher at Woolsthorpe Primary School.

Mr Johnson said he loved getting back to the south-west when he got the chance.

"I enjoy going back there for the May Racing Carnival," he said. "It was good to get back there this year even though it was under different circumstances."

Mr Johnson is also a proud grandfather to Sarah, Henry and Angus.

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