He received a plaque in appreciation of his "years of assistance to the industry and in particular to swimming pool managers and employees," from the delegates and trades people at the Country Pool Managers Conference.

The Country Pool Manager Association began in 1997 and Mr Austin was one of its founders.

"They always had a conference in Sydney and we started a country one with people in Mudgee and Sydney," Mr Austin said.

He said the Sydney conference had always been too big and many people wanted something more accessible to people in regional areas and tailored to people in the country.

In its second year, the conference was held in Wellington and this year in Tamworth there were 200 delegates and 37 stands.

When he received his award he said it was a big honour.

"I didn't expect it," Mr Austin said. "The conference is a chance to get information not just for pool managers but people all over Australia, allowing people in small country towns to attend at a reasonable cost." 

Mr Austin said the local pool was a vital asset to the community and that the conferences were a benefit to such services in rural communities.

"It's essential people learn to swim so lives aren't lost in the river," he said.