Mr Bills was recognised in the Queen's Birthday Honours List for his service to the Dubbo community through a range of community, historical, sporting, veteran and church organisations.

"I've never been one to blow my own trumpet,'' he said.

"But I'm just so proud and feel so privileged. It's a wonderful thing to be honoured in this way. It really caps off a long and happy life.''

Mr Bills has been part of the local community since 1958 when he was transferred to Dubbo as sheriff's officer.

He took up residence in Queen Street and immersed himself in a number of organisations including the Masonic Lodge, Dubbo Neighbourhood Watch, Dubbo Police Tennis Club, Dubbo City Bowling Club, Dubbo Golf Club, Dubbo Uniting Church and the Dubbo sub-branch of the Returned Services League of Australia.

Mr Bills is highly regarded in Masonic circles for his dedication, leadership and commitment and has worked tirelessly and raised enormous amounts of money for programs benefiting the aged, youth and children.

In the wider community Mr Bills is well known for his involvement in the establishment of Old Dubbo Gaol, which continues to be one of the city's most successful long-term tourist attractions.

"Dubbo identity Eddie Meek came up with the concept and I joined him on a committee to turn the neglected former prison over to tourism,'' Mr Bills recalled.

"We could see past the deteriorating empty buildings and overgrown grounds. The idea was mooted in 1972 and within a year we had the project up and running.

"Prisons were under the control of the sheriff's office so I had a considerable amount of knowledge and some useful contacts when it came to obtaining a terrific lot of memorabilia including the gallows, sheriff's hanging book and hangman's instructions.

"Tourists were keen to see the place where eight men had been hanged and attendance went from a few thousand in the early years to 97,000 a year by 1997 when Dubbo City Council took over Old Dubbo Gaol.

"It was a sad and frustrating time for me as president of the committee and for the dedicated committee men and women who had worked so hard for so many years.

"We tried to make the gaol as authentic as possible and based our animatronic figures on actual people who worked or were incarcerated in the gaol. A reunion of former warders, held some years ago, congratulated our committee for presenting to the public a true and real depiction of the gaol during its years as a functioning prison.''

Mr Bills was born at Tamworth 79 years ago and although christened Rupert John has always been known as Jack. The son of a policeman, he joined the deeds branch of the Register General's department after leaving school, enlisted in the airforce during World War II and served in 4 Airfield Construction Squadron during World War II.

"One of my greatest memories occurred at age 19 on the island of Labuan, off Borneo, when I was selected to play in a services cricket match. The captain of my team was Australian test wicket-keeper Wally Grout.

"Wally instructed me to bowl and marked a spot near the crease saying 'That's where I want you do drop every ball'. Happily I was able to deliver the goods and during the second over he walked up to say ‘I like a man who does what I tell him'."

"Outfielding later in the game I managed a magnificent catch right on the boundary. Later in the showers I heard the chaps remarking about the beautiful catch and felt so proud.''

Returning to Australia after the war, Mr Bills went back to the deeds branch before joining the sheriff's department. There were only 34 sheriff's officers in NSW and he had his work cut out for him as a civil law enforcer.

Mr Bills had a colourful career pulling people off ships and planes as they tried to escape the law of the state.

He may not have had spurs and a silver star like the sheriffs in the cowboy movies but, armed with an enforcement card, he had the same powers as any John Wayne character and was just as determined to get his man.

"Being able to ride was an asset and my ability in the saddle certainly surprised an old miner out in the mountains one day when he tried to stop me heading out in the high country to check mining leases," Mr Bills said.

"He said I wouldn't be able to ride his brumby because it had only recently been brought in from the scrub. You should have seen the look on his face when I produced my saddle and headed off.''

Mr Bills was stationed at Bega, Forbes and Sydney before transferring to Dubbo.

Mr Bills retired in 1986 and in recent years has spent his time caring for his wife Joan who is badly affected by arthritis.