As a man who is passionate about education and his own land, being awarded a Public Services Medal on Australia Day seems like a perfect fit for Rod Towney.
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Public Services Medals are awarded for outstanding service, be it through excellence to the public, innovation, leadership or better service delivery.
However, Cr Towney is humble about his achievements.
"It's good to be acknowledged but I never seek acknowledgement. You go and do your job and if you're doing it well people will comment anyway. And we all make mistakes. If you make a mistake you move on," he said.
He had worked for the United Nations and sat down with the Queen, but Cr Towney said it was his current role as director of Aboriginal Education and Equity Provision that was the most rewarding.
"It's rewarding because I'm part of shaping people's lives. Education opens the door to people, it leads to places," he said.
"We've had students come in who've been on welfare benefits, they begin at a lower level course and they work their way up to become doctors, lawyers, school teachers.
"That's the greatest reward. Seeing people graduate and happy in their situations."
Cr Towney said he had flown across the world and met heads of state, but said it was an opportunity he never would have had without education.
His achievements came from modest beginnings.
"I come from a family who didn't have anything. My mother was always working," Cr Towney said.
He said his background provides him with a different perspective.
"Students say 'you don't understand where I come from','you don't understand what it's like to have no food in you' but it changes when you tell them your stories. It's good to live in a poor man's shoes from time to time."
He said visiting countries with no social welfare made him appreciate what a great country Australia was and how blessed Australian residents were.
"I always come back to Dubbo. Dubbo's home."
Cr Towney said he was thankful to everyone who supported him and TAFE Western, as well as for the person who nominated him for the award.
"It's been a great journey for me, my life's been blessed. I'd life my life all over again if I could."