He knew for sure he would be receiving one of the nation’s highest honours about two weeks before the official announcement on the Monday of the Queens Birthday Long Weekend.

Ted is well known across the region as the Graffiti Buster, out and about seven days a week.

“Most people don’t even know it was there in the first place because I get rid of it so quickly.”

Ted has recently started working with residents in Tea Gardens Hawks Nest in order to keep this area free from graffiti.

In April he spent a day working at the Tea Gardens Skate Park to rid it of the vandalism.

Although he is known as the graffiti buster it’s the positive relationship with local youth he has developed that really matters to Ted. Through this work he has had a positive impact on many young lives.

Ted is also linked with the juvenile justice system and young offenders are assigned to him to carry out community service orders.

What’s intrigued Ted about the whole process relating to The Queen’s Birthday Honours List is the amount of work it takes to nominate somebody.

“The whole process has taken two years so that’s very humbling.”

And Ted knows of at least two people who submitted nominations: John Comerford and Colin Hodder.

Almost two years ago John visited Ted and asked to borrow some photographs and news clippings about his work ‘to show his daughter in Sydney’ he said at the time. But that was just the start of the nomination process which involved getting references from all levels of the community including the mayor.

So after the shock of it all, the overwhelming feeling for Ted is one of excitement.

“And I must admit I’m very proud,” he adds.

While he is most well known for his graffiti busting work, Ted has been behind many other community initiatives including the Tuncurry Branch of Neighbourhood Watch, the establishment of the only off-leash dog park in the area, and the district fundraising group of the Westpac Rescue Helicopter Service.

So the burning question now is: will Ted use the initials OAM after his name.

“No it would embarrass me.”