DOUG Sarah's mother always told him to do his best a motto he clearly took to heart.
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This week, Mr Sarah was awarded a University of Ballarat honorary doctorate for his work in the business community and local theatre.
"I was surprised and delighted," Mr Sarah said. "It was very unexpected. At the end of the day, you don't do this work for five decades and expect rewards for it."
The university's vice-chancellor Professor David Battersby said Mr Sarah had "enjoyed a career for which the term 'multi-faceted' might have been invented".
Mr Sarah has been involved in Ballarat retailing and business for 50 years, including 18 years as managing director of well-known clothing store Mr Casual.
He has also been involved with Small Business Victoria (Western Region), Ballarat Business Network, Business Enterprise Centres Victoria, the Ballarat Business Enterprise Centre, the New Enterprise Incentive Scheme and the Greenhill Enterprise Centre.
Mr Sarah has been involved with the Ballarat Regional Business Awards, the Nicholle McNeice Scholarship Foundation, the Ballarat Future Directions Task Force and the City of Ballarat's 2010 Economic Development Strategy.
He is on the Ballarat Regional Tourism Board, is a Sovereign Hill life governor, and is a long-time National Theatre committee member .
He has also been involved with the Art Gallery of Ballarat, the Ballarat Arts Council, and the Ballarat Lyric Theatre .
"I always wanted to make a difference, whatever I did," Mr Sarah said.
"I just want to do the best I can for Ballarat."
