He might have blown out 80 candles on his birthday cake in 2021 but Beachport businessman Keith Sneath is certainly not cutting back on his community and business interests.

Within two months, he will accept the role of president of the Lions Club of Beachport and Rivoli Bay for 2022/23 from incumbent Garry Smith at the annual changeover dinner.

Mr Sneath provided hands-on assistance to the seaside club on Anzac Day when it successfully staged a seaside dawn service commemoration and community breakfast.

His leadership roles in the community began in the early 1960s when he co-founded the Tantanoola Once A Year Club which meets every Christmas Day at the district’s former dairy factory on Poonada Road.

He remains its president to this day.

Over the past 60 years, he has also been president of such sporting organisations as the Mount Gambier Racing Club, Mid South East Football League, Tantanoola Football Club and the Millicent Racing Club.

His investments include a number of commercial properties in Millicent and he intends to make a fresh bid to deregulate the Millicent Proclaimed Shopping District which limits the trading hours of two supermarkets.

Mr Sneath’s current business focus is to develop a new building in Naracoorte to house a major hardware chain as well as a complex with 71 self-storage units.

“Some of my business activities are done in association with members of the Scott family of Mount Gambier,” Mr Sneath said.

Over the years, he has successfully raced thoroughbreds and this interest in racing continues.