Dr Letts, who is also a Commander of the British Empire, was awarded for “significant service to politics and government in the Northern Territory, and to conservation and the environment”.

Dr Letts, widely known as ‘Goff’, grew up in Donald and had a pivotal role helping to form the political landscape of the NT.

He was involved with the amalgamation of the NT Country Party and the Liberal Party to form the Country Liberal Party in 1974.

He has been acknowledged as the 'Father of Self-Government in the NT'.

Back in Victoria, he was the inaugural chair of the Northern Mallee Pipeline Project and a member of Marnoo Landcare Group.

Dr Letts said the Northern Mallee Pipeline Project was one of the most significant water saving efforts in Australia.

“Northern Mallee Pipeline was in eight stages and the state and Commonwealth governments only funded the first stage,” he said.

“In the beginning it wasn’t all that popular. Some farmers were apprehensive about losing their channels and dam fills.

“But we were losing more than 80 per cent of the water from the Grampians storages because it was seeping away in the channels and in this part of the world, losing 80 per cent of your water supply is not terribly conservation-minded.”  

Dr Letts was also a North Central Football League Tribunal member and an umpire for the Donald Cricket Association.

A veterinary surgeon by trade, Dr Letts looked to the Grampians region as his ideal place to retire and chose Stawell for its services.

“Professionally, my greatest love was conservation and I’m particularly satisfied with the results,” he said.