More than 350 guests celebrated selfless community service on Saturday night at the Rotary NSW Emergency Services Community Awards presentation dinner at Darling Harbour’s Dockside Pavilion.

Mr Fletcher, the Marine Rescue Port Macquarie operations officer, received a commemorative plaque in recognition of his achievements as one of four Marine Rescue NSW finalists.

The Marine Rescue NSW Officer of the Year went to Peter Taylor from the Shoalhaven.

Two overall winners were announced. 

The Rotary NSW Emergency Services Officer of the Year in a Voluntary Capacity went to David Cotsios, while Graham Parks was named Officer of the Year in a Paid Capacity.

Mr Fletcher said on a personal note, the experience was certainly different as he was not the sort of person who went looking for awards.

“For myself, I would say it was very good but it was also good for my unit in Port Macquarie,” he said.

“It encourages them to stay on and do more.”

Mr Fletcher has always been oriented to service to the community.

He has participated in many rescues and responded to call-outs day and night in all sorts of weather conditions.

“I believe you have to put something back into the community,” Mr Fletcher said.

“I’m retired now but I’ve never been so busy.”

The awards represent the only time six NSW emergency service agencies are recognised in a combined awards program.

They are Fire and Rescue NSW, Marine Rescue NSW, NSW Ambulance, NSW Rural Fire Service, NSW State Emergency Service and NSW Volunteer Rescue Association.

Mr Fletcher recognised the value of the awards for emergency service personnel.

“There are probably not quite enough of these sorts of events for people who volunteer their time, when you see the amount of volunteers and what they do,” he said.

Mr Fletcher also acknowledged the support of his wife Margaret.