Mr Brenssell, who now lives in North Otago and continues to give back to the community as caretaker at Five Forks School, said it was "very humbling" to receive an 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."
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. In 2012 he was the recipient of the Hāwea Volunteer of the Year award.
One of his proudest achievements was founding an Anzac service in Hāwea. It has grown year-on-year and last yea more than 1200 people attend.
