Ophir welfare committee chairman Garry Price said Sam Leask had chaired the hall committee for about 40 years until his death in December 2024.
Since then, the welfare and hall committees had amalgamated, he said.
To honour Mr Leask’s memory and tireless efforts in his community a wooden seat had been made by local people and it was unveiled on New Year’s Day by his widow Irene and long-time friend Jim Dundass.
Mrs Leask said she was taken aback when the idea of a seat was suggested but her late husband had been very community-spirited.
When they had talked about moving from the family farm, where Mr Leask had spent his life, Mrs Leask asked where he thought they should go.
"Ophir, of course", he replied.
"But the one thing that he was not frugal with ... was his time he gave to community, namely the fire brigade, the musical society, the A&P society to name a few and, of course, the township of Ophir and the hall. He gave years of service to ensure the survival and maintain its originality and ... it still stands pristine and loved by all and a lot to do with Sam's involvement and dedication."
Mr Leask’s knowledge of people in the community was legendary.
"If you ever wanted to know something about somebody in the district or anything like that it was only just a sheer matter of ringing Sam and he would be able to tell you. Now they weren't short phone calls but he knew where the people were, what the people were doing, the families, who they married, their siblings, what school they went to when they left school", Mr Dundass said.
"I hope the people here today and other people will take the time at some stage to sit upon that seat, take the time to gaze out . . . and just remember one absolutely, wonderful man Morris Samuel Leask."
After the unveiling people were invited into the hall to share some of Mr Leask’s favourite refreshments — Speight’s and whisky.
