For the last 25 years, he has been active in the Hāwea community and this year is receiving a King’s Service Medal for his service.
Mr Brenssell said it was "very humbling" to receive a New Year Honour.
"You don’t do these things thinking somewhere along the limes I’ll get some big award.
"That’s not what it’s about, it’s about doing things for the betterment of the community and helping people."
His philosophy for giving back was simple.
"If you don’t put anything into anything, you don’t get anything back."
Mr Brenssell was a committee member and the caretaker of the Lake Hāwea Community Centre and was a key figure in raising funds for the centre to be extended in 2011.
He has also been a committee member of the Hāwea Community Association and Hāwea Picnic Racing Club as well as a founding member of the Hāwea Domain Board and the Upper Clutha community patrol.
Mr Brenssell spent 16 years as part of the Lake Hāwea Volunteer Fire Brigade, also serving as chief fire officer.
In his spare time, he volunteered for the Department of Corrections for over a decade helping those with community work sentences.
He was also the first ever winner of the Hāwea Volunteer of the Year award in 2012.
One of his proudest achievements was founding an Anzac service in Hāwea.
It has grown year-on-year and last year’s service had more 1200 people attend.
"Big towns don’t even get 1000 people," he said.
"You used to have to go to Wanaka and you could never get in because it was full ... and now we get a lot of people from Wanaka coming out."
Now lives in North Otago and continues to give back as caretaker at Five Forks School.
Douglas James Brenssell
Oamaru
KSM
Community
