Neil Paterson was awarded the Medal of the Order of Australia for services to the community of Yorke Peninsula.
His service to his local community, particularly in the Bute and Kadina areas, has included as chairman of the District Council of Bute and the Yorke Peninsula Local Government Asssociation, as a board member since 1970 and treasurer since 1978 of the NYP Homes organization, as a District Governor of Apex, and for thirty years a member of the Lions Club of Bute.
District sport has also been served by Neil. He is patron and former captain, president and treasurer of the Bute Cricket Club, current patron of the YP Cricket Association, and current patron of the Bute Netball Club. Since 1979 Neil has been a selector and coach for the NYP Cricket Team of the SA Primary School Sports Amateur Sports Association. He was also active in the fund raising for the establishment of the Bute Sporting Club.