A man in his 70s who collects syringes from playgrounds has been named Citizen of the Year in South Australia's Australia Day Awards.
Maurice Riddle of Parafield Gardens in Adelaide is among five winners presented with their awards at Government House.
Mr. Riddle says he has been collecting syringes at playgrounds for about seven years as a way to keep the areas safer for children.
"I've got 40-odd playgrounds in the Salisbury Council area to check over," he said.
"We had a little boy cut at one stage there with a razor blade on the slippery dip and syringes being put ... in the chips at the bottom of slippery dips, all done on purpose."
