“People need to put back into their communities.” 

Mr Sanders lives this belief through his volunteer work, which has led to his selection for the role of king in the 2018 Golden Gateway Festival.

The king is selected by the festival organising committee, who chooses the king to recognise him for his community work.

Despite being known for his hard work as a volunteer, the announcement came as a surprise to Mr Sanders.

“I was a little bit shell shocked, a little bit over-awed and honoured,” he said.

Mr Sanders has been involved in a range of projects from sporting clubs to a ratings strategy group, and over the years he often saw a need which led him to do something about it.

“It’s just a diverse range of interests and those things that came along I put my hand up for,” he said.

“I think probably the Lions Club has probably been the most rewarding but there was a lot in the early years, with the VFF and starting a Landcare group – I just saw a need there, that something needed doing.” 

Mr Sanders was grateful to be named this year’s king. 

“I’d like to thank the Goldengate Committee for the opportunity, and the community – and I probably should thank my wife,” he said.

Mr Sanders has been involved in the following projects:

- A current member Moyston Fire Brigade since 1975;

- From 1975 until its closure he was a worker, committee member, secretary and president of Moyston Boxing Day Sports;

- From 1979 to 1985 he was a player and committee member of the Moyston Football Club;

- In 1981 he was the secretary of the Ararat Motorcycle Club;

- From 1987 to 1993 he was a founding member, secretary and president of the Moyston Landcare Group;

- From 1990 to 1993 he was president of the Ararat branch of the Victorian Farmers Federation;

- From 2001 he served four terms as president of the  Ararat Lions Club;

- From 2005 to 2014 he was a committee member and football operations manager at the Moyston Willaura Football Club, and served two terms as President;

- In 2013 he aided in the establishment of the Ararat Storm Girls Football club;

- From 2012 he has been an Anglicare youth volunteer and in 2014 received the Anglicare Oustanding Volunteer Award;

- From 2016 ongoing he has been a member of the Ararat Community Enterprise;

- Between 2017 and 2018 he was a member of the Ararat Rating Strategy Group.

The Festival will commence on October 19.