He has installed solar-powered computers in Vanuatu schools, removed willow trees from the Colo River and pulled dangerous sea spurge from Tasmania's west coast.
So Leura resident Phillip Isaacs has undoubtedly earned his OAM citation: "For service to the community through a range of roles."
Mr Isaacs has been a member of Rotary since 1973, when he joined up at his then home in North Ryde. He served as president there as well as at the Rotary Club of Macquarie Park then continued Rotary membership during a three-year stint in Japan.
When he moved to the Mountains he joined the Rotary Club of Upper Blue Mountains Sunrise.
"I wanted to be able to give back, to do something for the community," he said, adding it gives him "a lot of pleasure".
One of Mr Isaac's key projects in recent years has been installing solar-powered computers and solar power in classrooms in Vanuatu.
With the help of TAFE students, many from the Wentworth Falls IT school, they have installed 200 computers in 15 schools.
He has been part of the campaign to clear the Colo River of its environmentally damaging willow trees, with efforts dating back to 2000.
And more recently there has been the sea spurge. Euphorbia paralias is a highly damaging weed which grows on the beaches of the remote west coast of Tasmania and prevents birds breeding there.
Mr Isaacs happened to know a consultant engaged to look at the problem and before long found himself being flown to the Apple Isle.
He and some colleagues were be dropped in to remote areas by helicopter, carrying all their provisions and camping in the wild as they cleared sections of the weed.
They call themselves "spratters" - Sea Spurge Remote Area Teams (SPRAT) - and over the years has introduced other Mountains folk to the job, including members of the Springwood bushwalkers club.
Mr Isaacs said he was "surprised and very humbled" to learn of his honour.
