Being appointed a member of the order of Australia is another step in a long marathon for Pat Farmer.
The ultra-marathon runner and former MP, who has run from the north to the south pole, was on Monday honoured for significant service to the community through fundraising support for charitable organisations, his sport, and to parliament.
"I don't know how I did it. I just did it. You just do what you've got to do when you've got to do it," he told AAP.
Mr Farmer, who in 1999 became the record-holder for the fastest run around Australia (191 days and 10 minutes) and set a world record for running 10,000km in 129 days, says he won't let this latest accolade go to his head.
"If receiving some sort of an honour for what I've done in the past is a way of influencing and inspiring others it can only be a good thing," he said.
"It's about making my life count for something personally and being able to see that my time on this planet has been worthwhile."
Mr Farmer is preparing for a soft sand run at Sydney's Maroubra beach in late June to help raise $20,000 for homeless youth.
He is also planning a run from the from the west coast to the east coast of India to raise awareness of education funding and to encourage wealthier Indian schools to support poorer ones.
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