Peter Swain did not have the first clue a King’s Service Medal was coming his way.
"To be quite honest, I didn’t know anything about it."
Mr Swain played an integral role in establishing and maintaining the Foodbank Charitable Trust as a valuable non-profit community asset and has volunteered with the Southland Food Bank since 1991.
"It’s really just one of those jobs that has to be done. So you get on and do it, don’t you?"
While he was beginning to pull back from some duties due to his age — "well into the 80s" — he had thoroughly enjoyed his work over the years.
"Of course, you always meet the odd ratbag, but you put the ratbags aside, and most of the people in Invercargill are very, very good.
"I’ve always had the support of my loving wife, Olive, and the family, of course, and my previous employers at the freezing works."
When the foodbank was established, the founding trustees thought it would become unnecessary within two years.
"But unfortunately, about 30-plus years later, we’re still going strong — and the demand is increasing."
He was elected as chairman of the Southland Foodbank Charitable Trust in 2007, and remains a trustee and volunteer at the foodbank.
Mr Swain was made a life member of the Otago-Southland branch of the Meat Workers Union in 2007, having been union secretary for 27 years until retirement.
As secretary, he set up a foodbank for workers during a 13-week strike.
