KEN Fletcher's commitment to saving lives and serving his community embodies the spirit of Australian volunteering, the Queen's birthday honours list says.
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The Marine Rescue Port Macquarie deputy unit commander was awarded an Emergency Services Medal in the Queen's Birthday honours.
It was 30 years ago when Mr Fletcher joined the then Sea Rescue, and back in those days, membership was by invitation.
One radio base operator at Kennedy Drive took all the radio calls and everyone did their bit to keep the organisation running.
Today Marine Rescue is a structured organisation with about 140 members in the Port Macquarie unit.
It costs about $160,000 a year to keep the unit's doors open.
Mr Fletcher will step into the operations officer role for the boats and boat crew next month with responsibilities such as ensuring the boats are ready to go at all times.
"The boat crew relies on each other so heavily, and there is very good camaraderie," he said.
Mr Fletcher said he was surprised with the Queen's Birthday honour.
The citation said Mr Fletcher served Marine Rescue NSW with distinction as a marine rescue volunteer in the Port Macquarie district of NSW, ensuring the boating community was protected by a high-quality rescue service committed to saving lives on the water.
Through his participation in rescue operations in dangerous conditions, he has frequently placed the safety of others above his own to return people in peril safely to shore.
Mr Fletcher's most memorable rescue happened in his early days with the group when volunteers were called to an incident off Miners Beach when the current swept two people away from a boat.
They came to shore at Lighthouse Beach.
Mr Fletcher said the remaining two people in the boat didn't have a clue.
The pair had been seasick all through the boat.
"I jumped into the boat and fell into the vomit," he said.
"We had to transfer them across horrendous seas.
"We tied a rope off the other boat, put them in the water and dragged them on board."
The citation said demonstrating his outstanding leadership as deputy unit commander of Marine Rescue Port Macquarie, Mr Fletcher had also accepted responsibility in numerous unit positions and willingly shared his time, experience and skill to ensure that his fellow volunteers were effectively trained for their duties.
Mr Fletcher's love of the ocean and the water has been a constant over the years.
A quiet achiever - Phil Passmore
Lifetime of caring - Dr Natarahan Subbiah
