The Dubbo man was involved in a horrific, high-speed car crash in 1995, which left him with an acquired brain injury.

He was the driver, and he had been drinking.

Now he uses his experience to educate young drivers and traffic offenders, and on Wednesday he received a Dubbo Day Award for his efforts.

“I reckon it’s excellent, because I don’t get paid for what I do,” he said.

“To get some recognition...is good enough for me.”

Andrew was 21-years-old when he tried to round a corner in a friend’s car at at least 150 kilometres per hour.

The car slid 120 metres before flipping into a house.

Andrew was resuscitated twice as emergency services pulled him from the wreckage, and he spent two weeks in a medically-induced coma.

“It completely destroyed my life and that of my family,” he said.

If the talks could save even one life a year, Andrew said “that’s good enough for me”.

“Basically telling people ‘unless you want to ruin your life, don’t do it’,” he said.

“Hopefully it gets through.”

Andrew was one of 17 exceptional local people recognised on Wednesday as Dubbo Regional Council marked 167 years since Dubbo was gazetted as a village.

A long-serving Meals on Wheels volunteer, a man dedicated to improving local waterways and a Dubbo Rescue Squad member were also among those honoured.

“The outstanding recipients are working for the betterment of our city as a whole,” Dubbo Day Awards committee chair Bill Greenwood said.

“The strength of our community is found in these many individuals who volunteer their time and services without expectation, praise, appreciation or recognition.

“It is incumbent upon our community to recognise the value these people bring.”

2016 DUBBO DAYS AWARD WINNERS: Lorraine Callaghan, Michael Brien, Michael O’Neill, Jennifer Chenhall, Heather Exelby, Andrew Murray, Joan Yeo, Bill Donnison, Jason Blake, Tina Beggs, Bruce Buchanan, Dianne Medley, Margaret Carolan, Annette Priest, Amanda Bye, Joyce Morris, Ann Sharpe.