A farmer's son, Ian is the third generation of his family to live in the district, and just like the rest of his relatives he has a huge fondness for the region and its native flora and fauna.

While Ian still runs the 316-hectare family farm, he also operates two other businesses in the town – the Medika Gallery and Blyth Regional Cinema.

"I've only ever been away on trips," Ian said.

"I just couldn't ever see myself leaving this part of the world – I just really like the landscape, the people and I just feel like I'm part of the dirt here," he said.

Ian is involved in many aspects of his community, the sporting clubs, Blyth Progress Association, setting up a group scheme for solar panels, and is the cinema committee chairperson and manager.

The cinema was set up in 2005 in the old Masonic Lodge building Ian bought, because it was across the road from his gallery.

As a child, Ian had only ever been to a cinema about five times before he decided he would like a cinema in his hometown.

"I went to the cinemas in Adelaide and decided I had the perfect building and we should try and set one up here," he said.

"I called a public meeting and people were interested in starting one up, so we went ahead and did it."

More than 23,000 people have watched movies in the cinema since it opened.

"We make money every week," Ian said.

"It's open every Saturday and Sunday and in-between, and we have extra matinees in the holidays."

"We probably would have got more people if we were in Clare, especially more children during the holidays.

"But it's done very well considering."

Ian has received many awards for his community work.

In 2007 was on the front cover of the Yorke Peninsula and Mid North White Pages after he was chosen as a champion of his community.

He also accepted the Westpac Australian Community Idol award in 2008 on behalf of the cinema management committee.

And in 1989 he won the Australia Day Citizen of the Year Award for Blyth.

When he is not volunteering for community projects, Ian finds his time split between painting, running the gallery, farming and planting trees for Trees for Life.

He also runs bed and breakfast accomodation, Windmill Cottage.

* Extract from a full Our People report in Stock Journal, July 2 issue.