The Hill Top resident's dedicated service has been recognised with the awarding of an Australian Fire Service Medal (AFSM).

"Joining the bush fire brigade was just one of the things you did way back then," Mr Matters has said.

"There was no organisation like there is now. People just banded together in the villages and formed brigades.

"You supplied your own vehicle, if you had one, and the only equipment we had was rakes, shovels, axes, brush hooks and knapsacks.

"We fought fires differently [then] ... we didn't have the build-up of houses we have now."

Mr Matters' commendation said he was a "driving force behind many improvements in training and safety for volunteers".

"His leadership came to the fore during the 2001 Black Christmas fires, which threatened the village of Hill Top," it read.

"His local knowledge [helped] preserve all of the properties when they came under direct threat from the fast running crown fire.

"Throughout his distinguished service Mr Matters has always had a strong interest and influence in the training of new fire fighters, and continues to be actively involved in training."

Speaking to the Southern Highland News in 2013, Mr Matters said it was good to mentor recruits, to help them understand "the things to do and the things not to do".

"You do it for the village you live in," Mr Matters said. "You're helping people who can't help themselves. The reason you stay ... is the comradeship of the type of people who go into volunteering."

The Southern Highland News was unable to contact Mr Matters about his Queen's Birthday Honour before going to press.