Prompted by his doctor to do regular exercise as part of his rehabilitation, Mr Garner has made the Leader a part of his life.

Mr Garner is one of this newspaper's most mature "rounders'' at 84, and has been pounding the pavement each Tuesday and Thursday for the past 10 years to deliver the Leader in the south Cronulla area.

"My doctor told me I had to walk every day as part of my rehabilitation,'' said Mr Garner, who has lived in the shire for 76 years.

"There was a walk along here [The Esplanade at Cronulla] I'd go on, but after a while I got a bit bored, and I said to myself that I had to get something to make me move, or I wouldn't do anything.''

The former bus driver was once regularly recognised for driving the Caringbah to Lilli Pilli route for 25 years, but he is now regarded as "the Leader man''.

For many years Mr Garner's wife Elaine accompanied him on his rounds but she has now stopped.

So to make the delivery of his 320 Leaders easier he has converted an old baby stroller to carry the papers.

"I enjoy it,'' Mr Garner said.

"For many people and particularly people like me, who might be a bit older, I think it's a good thing to be getting out there and doing something.

"When I come home I'll rest a bit.'' He said he would continue delivering until he could no longer walk.