Along with the certificate and medallion the 81-year-old retired Dunedin physician received when he was named 2011 Anzac of the Year yesterday, he will be given a 70kg bronze statuette to look after until the next recipient is chosen.
The statuette, based on the famous Gallipoli image Man with a Donkey, was created by official New Zealand Army artist Captain Matt Gauldie.
Dr McMahon said last night he would take it to towns such as Oamaru and Invercargill, and hoped it would be on public display in Dunedin for a time.
"I intend to make sure all veterans in this area see it. Something like this belongs to all of us."
Dr McMahon, who has served his country as a soldier, citizen, doctor and humanitarian, is the second recipient of the award, initiated by the Royal New Zealand Returned and Services Association (RSA) to recognise the qualities of comradeship, compassion, courage and commitment which embody the tradition of the Anzac.
The award was presented by Governor-General Sir Anand Satyanand at a ceremony at Government House.
Dr McMahon said he was "very honoured and quite embarrassed" about his award.
"I've been in the military and I know what a lot of other people have done. You think `Why me?' It's like Lotto - the ticket fell my way this time."
However, he said he was "quite delighted".
"It is a wonderful thing to have happened."
Dr McMahon was accompanied by his daughter, Jenny. His four sons were unable to attend. He said he was sorry he could not share the day with his wife, Margaret, who died in 2001.
"She was the one who managed the children for 20 years when I wasn't at home."
Dr McMahon started his service in the New Zealand Army in 1966 as a resident medical officer in Waiouru.
During his time in the army, he was appointed regimental medical officer 1st Battalion Royal New Zealand Infantry Regiment in Malaysia, and served as a medical officer in the 1st New Zealand Services Medical Team in Vietnam.
His army career culminated in his appointment as director-general of Defence Force Medical Services in 1980.
After his retirement in 1983, Dr McMahon remained active within defence medical services, and was colonel commandant of the medical corps from 1992-95 and again from 2005-08.
Outside the army, he had a distinguished medical career and was medical superintendent of Wakari Hospital and later Dunedin Hospital, and a lecturer at the Otago Medical School.
He has had a long interest in eradicating leprosy in the Southwest Pacific and Southeast Asia.
RSA national president Lieutenant-general (retired) Don McIver said Dr McMahon was a "dedicated professional" who had given significant service to New Zealanders and to the international community.
