Bob started his involvement with the scheme 10 years ago after retiring from a lengthy career in the local automotive industry.

Since then, he has visited Brian Hughes every Saturday at Southern Cross Village.

These Saturdays usually consist of Bob taking Brian for a drive to watch the local hockey and football as well as other interesting activities.

The visits have continued a long-standing relationship between the two.

Bob’s family moved to Parkes in 1941 and met Brian’s family shortly after.

Bob mentioned Brian’s “unbelievable” good memory as a highlight of their relationship and told a story about how Brian, on his pushbike, would stop in every day at Bob’s workplace Broderick’s Motors for a cup of tea and a biscuit.

However, Bob said his was not the only workplace Brian visited.

“We’d often wonder just how many cups of tea he’d had by the end of the day,” he joked.

Community Visitor Scheme Coordinator Val Mann praised the work of Mr Barter and other volunteers associated with the program.

“It’s not just good for the residents, it’s good for the volunteers,” Ms Mann  said.

Bob is one of approximately 20 volunteers who visit nursing homes around the Forbes, Parkes, and Condobolin areas.

The Community Visitors Scheme has run since 1993 and is part of a Commonwealth Government Initiative to improve the quality of life for people living in Residential Care Homes.

The visits form part of an active lifestyle for former rugby league and hockey player Bob, who still stays fit through swimming and golf.

Bob was thankful for the recognition and highlighted a “sense of satisfaction” as a benefit from the volunteer work.