In the Queen's Birthday honours list, the Deer Park resident was awarded the Medal of the Order of Australia for services to the Maltese community of Victoria.

"I was so proud when I found out. I never expected such an honour," he said.

Living in Newport in the 1970s, Mr Calleja was a founding member of the Newport Maltese Association. He has been the president of the group since 1994.

One of his proudest achievements was helping to raise $300,000 to go towards building the Maltese Community Centre in Parkville.

"That is such a wonderful centre and is used by the whole Maltese community," he said.

Mr Calleja believe the whole Newport Maltese Association deserved the honour.

"The whole executive committee - we all work hard together to make all these things happen. They all deserve it."

Having worked as a policeman in Malta, Mr Calleja took up a new career as a postman in Australia.

Over the years, he moved up the ranks and eventually put his police training to good use as an investigator with Australia Post.

He also established a Maltese seniors group.

Mr Calleja helps to organise walking groups for Maltese people with diabetes,

volunteers with the Maltese Community Council of Victoria and helps organise the annual Maltese cultural festival.

He said the Maltese Association was very important to the community. It has more than 300 members and organises many community events.

The popular seniors group meets every week.

"It's nice for them all to have each other to sit down with and talk about the old days in Malta. It gives them somewhere to meet and chat."

Mr Calleja also enjoys spending time with his wife, Lillian, two daughters, Maria and Natalie, and grandsons, Adam and David.