Henry, fondly known as Arthur, was born in Wagga as a fourth generation Nixon, a family that settled in the Wagga District in 1834. 

Growing up he attended Wagga Public School in Gurwood street in the 1930s and later Wagga High School. 

Jenny, his daughter, said he worked in his father's market garden on the banks of the Murrumbidgee River before his first job as a blacksmith.

“In 1937, he and his father went to Sydney on the train and bought a 1937 Chevrolet one tonne truck and drove it home along the Hume Highway which was then a dirt track,” she said.

“His father used this truck for many years in the market garden.

“In later years, Arthur restored this same truck to perfection and it was his pride and joy.”

Arthur went to on to serve his country in the engineering field during the Second World War from 1940 to 1945, protecting Australia in New Guinea and Borneo.

“He was under difficult conditions, to provide the freedom we all enjoy today,” Jenny said.

While working tirelessly, Arthur made sure to send his wife Beatrice, a nurse, homemade jewellery and letters. They exchanged 300 letters with each other during the war. 

“After their marriage in 1944, followed their three children Malcolm, Sylvia and myself,” Jenny said. 

“They had many hardships with floods from the Murrumbidgee River, where their whole paddock of pumpkins and carrots rotted in the ground, but this disaster was overcome with much positivity.” 

In 1960, Arthur and his wife started Nixon's Engineering in their garage past North Wagga and relocated to Hammond Ave in 1980. 

Their son, Malcolm, took over the family legacy and now runs the business which provides services, parts and manufacture of steel products, trucks, trailers. 

Nixon's has built and donated structures including the North Wagga School gates, gates on the Camelia gardens at the Botanical Gardens, features at St.Johns Church and the Girl Guide Hall.

Arthur has been a faithful member of many clubs and organizations over the years such as school P&Cs, Apex, Rotary, Probus, Legacy, the Hospital Board, Historical Society, St.Johns Church, Veteran & Vintage Car Club to name some.

He was awarded Citizen of the Year in 2008 and Walk of Honour in 2015, situated outside the marketplace pavement.

Accepting the Walk of Honour, Arthur demonstrated a great sense of humility. 

"A hundred years ago, my great- great-grandfather put a flour mill on this bloody lagoon, just here, about where you're sitting now," he said in his acceptance speech.

"I reckon he should've got the prize instead of me.

"Anyway, I'll see you later."

Arthur was a loving figure to three children, 11 grandchildren and 27 great-grandchildren. 

“We have lost a caring supportive father and a very valuable member of the community who has worked tirelessly in every way,” Jenny said. 

While you’re with us, did you know that you can now receive updates straight to you inbox each day at 6am from the Daily Advertiser? To make sure you’re up to date with all the Wagga news sign up here.