Former radio announcer Scott Levi has been awarded the Medal of the Order of Australia (OAM), while David Anstice has been made an officer in the general division of the Order of Australia (AO).

Two current Wagga residents were also honoured.

Turvey Park firefighter David Gill was awarded the Australian Fire Service Medal (AFSM), the highest honour an Australian firefighter can receive, and Robert Knight, the executive director of the Riverina Regional Library, has also been awarded the OAM.

Mr Levi, who was a long-time breakfast announcer at 2WG and also worked for ABC Riverina, was acknowledged for both his services to broadcast media and to the community.

He has been with the ABC on the Central Coast since 2003, but was in Wagga for more than 10 years.

Mr Levi said he was humbled by the honour, which he said had come “out of the blue”.

He recognised the many people in Wagga who had worked hard for charities, paying tribute to the city for the way its residents stood “shoulder to shoulder” to help the community.

Mr Levi described himself as a “conduit" who was able to promote the work of community organisations.

One of Mr Levi’s favourite memories of community work in Wagga involved a race at the Murrumbidgee Turf Club on horses belonging for Riding for the Disabled, against other media figures who all had equestrian experience.

"All these other people were galloping flat out and there’s me – on the outside lane – with my saddle slipping and trying to get to the end,” he said.

Mr Anstice, who now lives in Potts Point in Sydney, grew up in Wagga before leaving to attend the University of Sydney.

He was recognised with the AO for his distinguished service to Australia-America business relations, particularly in the pharmaceutical field, through roles with multinational and educational organisations.

After he completed a Bachelor of Economics, the former Wagga High School student joined one of the world’s largest pharmaceutical companies, Merck, and remained with them until his retirement in 2008.