"Mark is not my christened name, it is my entertainment name," he explained.

For someone who actually has an entertainment name and such a strong Yorkshire accent to go with it, it may seem a little odd to learn that the main reason he came to Australia was to play baseball.

"I am a baseball freak," Mark said.

"I had the choice to come here or to go to Japan, and in the end I didn't fancy learning a new language."

With his customary enthusiasm, Mark helped some new baseball clubs get started and formed the Macarthur Baseball Association in the Campbelltown area.

For someone who spent his early years in hospital and in plaster, and was told he would always be in a wheelchair, Mark's life has been amazing.

"I was born with no ankles, which meant seven major operations so they could bring my feet into something like normal," Mark explained.

"At the time the doctors said, 'You will be in a wheelchair, but it won't look so obvious'."

Today Mark walks with a slight limp, but he walks quite freely. More importantly, he has learnt to never let anything get the better of him.

It was a random act of kindness during his treatment as a child that taught Mark the true meaning of giving and kindness.

"During the war, all the metal went to the military, so even though I badly needed calipers, nobody could make them, not even the health department.

"But Doctor Blair gave my mother a letter and told her to go to see the Hull Braves Guild, and about four months later, a telegram arrived telling her to take me back to the hospital. When we got there, there were my calipers."

Apparently the charity organised for blacksmiths to make the calipers from scrap metal. Mark had seven sets of calipers over the years and says they changed his life.

"I was so fortunate to have people go out of the way to help me. Those people, mum didn't know them. They got the scrap metal they needed and got the calipers out of it, illegally. That material was supposed to go off to the war. Without them I wouldn't have had the life I've had."

When people ask Mark why he does so much charity work now, it is difficult for him to put into words what motivates him. He doesn't need to know the people he is helping intimately, it is just important that people do help someone who needs help.

Mark organises performances, open mic sessions and fundraisers to help local groups.

"We have sessions at Kew Country Club on the third Sunday of the month in aid of Westpac Rescue Helicopter. Anyone can come and sing whatever they like. We have a lead guitar, a rhythm guitar, drums and a bass. It's all live. The focus is on enjoyment and raising a bit of money for charity. The first one raised $385 for the helicopter rescue service. The generosity of the bowlers was unreal."

Just when you think you must have heard the most interesting things about Mark Conway/Ron Naylor, you find out there's more. He was a greyhound trainer for 32 years, and at one time considered himself the unofficial spoon playing champion of Australia, when the official champion refused to take him on in a challenge.

"I actually still have my spoons from 1953, when I first learnt," he said.

Mark also had a brush with fame in the form of Paul "Hoges" Hogan about 40 years ago.

"I came second to Paul Hogan on the 'Search for a Star' television talent show in the early 1970s. He was brilliant, particularly when it came to ad-libbing."

Today Mark says he still does a fair bit of busking and performing. He describes himself as a semi-classical singer.

"I sing ballads and country songs now. My favourite is 'One Day at a Time'. I do a little bit of Johnny Cash and as well as country gospel. I choose not to sing Australian country music, only out of respect for the classics."

In the last few years Mark has organised numerous fundraising shows at local clubs and pubs.

"We've fundraised for Legacy, Red Cross, the Men's Shed, Riding for the Disabled and others. Working with Robert Dwyer at the Laurieton United Services Club is a real pleasure, he is so generous. I also did a stint at the Kendall Services Club raising money for the children's ward at the hospital. The people and the businesses gave us tremendous support."

Mark is also involved with the Hastings Country Music Association. The group's regular sing-alongs, meetings, campouts and "blackboard jams" allow him to indulge his love of music. He often draws from the group's members to put his charity shows together.

"These are the people that really make the shows. Sometimes I'll get five or six really good local artists and 99 times out of 100 they come and perform for nothing. They are the real heroes, these are the people you should be talking to, not me."

Mark's next session at Kew Country Club will on Sunday July 20, in aid of Westpac Rescue Helicopter. The music goes from 11am to 4pm and performers from Taree, Wingham, Wauchope and further afield have been coming along to sing.

"You don't have to be great, you can just walk up to a mic and do what you want to do," Mark said.