When he was a young lad he would gather clippings from old newspapers and magazines of the best sports stars in the country.
One of the items he holds dear to his heart is an old soldier's belt full of badges and pins from army regiments across the world.
“It was given to me by my uncle Jack,” he said.
“You can see an Egyptian one, East Yorkshire, Lancashire, and there's one badge with a Bengal so you think that would be from India.
“My uncle was a butcher before the war and he went through mainly as a butcher. I'm not sure if he heard too many guns go off — he went to Tobruk.”
Remarkably, the belt has German badges that could be from World War I.
Mr Mays is unsure how his uncle obtained some of the medals but knows he was stationed in England soon after World War II.
Mr Mays said he was aware Jack went to Durban in South Africa at some point during the war.
Mr Mays said he was pretty proud of the belt and planned to give it to his son. Mr Mays didn't serve in the war, as he was just 15 when the war finished.
Kyabram RSL sub-branch member James Stud said it was common for soldiers to collect badges and medals, as he did the same when he was in Korea.
Mr Mays shared a poem he wrote with the Free Press.
Remembering World War II
We would go to the Rex to see the flicks, especially the deeds of Cassidy and Tom Mix.
We were in there the night war was declared, making us all so nervous and scared.
Local lads said never you fear, we'll be over there soon and end it this year.
But after the fight at Tobruk and on the Track,
It's sad to say that a lot didn't come back.
— Leo Mays, Kyabram.
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