The 70-year-old formerly worked for the Department of Primary Industries and as a butcher, and after a long career, spends his time at the YMCA gym and volunteering for various causes.

Mr King participates in the hospital's Meals on Wheels program, designed to deliver warm meals to Horsham's elderly population who can't cook for themselves.

He said he started volunteering for the program 12-years-ago, through his workplace.

"When you get into retiring age you think you need something to do, and volunteering is a good thing," Mr King said.

"I found it fulfilling, really good. I've kept doing it on a personal basis as well, without having to do it through work.

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"Now I do a minimum of one run a week. Usually I have a set day and that's my Meals on Wheels day, but if they need an extra day or two I am happy to help."

He said he volunteers simply because he enjoys doing it.

Satisfaction comes from delivering the meals to the same people, getting to know them, and forging a connection with the community.

"I enjoy doing it, the interactions with the elderly people when you take their meals to them. I just enjoy doing it, there is no special reason," Mr King said.

Mr King also volunteers with the Riding for the Disabled program at the Horsham Equestrian Club.

Every Friday, he and a group of other volunteers provide a horse riding experience for people of all abilities.

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The program has three horses and carts, which the participants sit in and are taken around by a rider.

The carts are also wheelchair accessible, with a special cart that participants can be strapped into.

"You can just tell by the look on the people's faces that they enjoy it," Mr King said.

"I haven't got any funny stories but I haven't got any disastrous stories either. It's just that small little thing that makes you feel good."

He recommended anyone with even an hour of free time during the week to put their hand up and work for a volunteer organisation.

"The life of the town is in its volunteers. Footy clubs, fire brigades. Volunteers are the lifeblood of all regional clubs. There is no doubt about that. If there were no volunteers no club would exist in the country," Mr King said.

"Meals on Wheels, it is three-quarters of an hour to an hour of your day. You might get a run where there might only be four or five, but you might get a run where there's eleven.

"But it still only takes out a small amount of your time to help other people. You know they are going to get a nice, hot meal."

For more information on volunteering for Meals on Wheels, call the Centre for Participation on 5381 6701.

"Just give volunteering one go, and then you'll be hooked," Mr King said.

"One day you might be in that predicament where you might need someone's assistance and then you won't feel guilty because you can say 'I did that'."

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