He described one incident from about 15 years ago that has stuck with him.

“A little boy was missing up on the Glenelg River, and a lot of people thought that he was actually in the river, but after searching all night and half the next morning we actually found him up the road,” Mr Hein said. “It was a successful outcome.”

Mr Hein, a stand-out for his 40 years of service, was one of the volunteers from the region celebrated on Saturday at the organisation’s long service and national medal presentation event.

The former Scout has been involved with the Portland unit since 1976, when he joined as a founding member.

He has travelled to places such as New Zealand and Scotland to complete training and rescue competitions and served in a range of roles over time – including serving as the current transport officer – but his reasons for being involved haven’t changed much.

“It’s helping people in need,” Mr Hein said. “When we’re operational, somebody else is disadvantaged or has a problem, whether it be a road accident or storm damage, or a tree down across their driveway and they can’t get out. It’s about helping my community.”

He said the most challenging situations to manage were road accidents, particularly when children were involved.

Mr Hein said he could not have achieved 40 years of service without his family’s support. His son, aged 37, had followed in his footsteps and joined the Portland unit too.

“My wife, at two or three o’clock in the morning when the pager is going off, she reads the message while I’m getting dressed,” he said.

The dedicated volunteer said he had seen an enormous amount of change in the organisation over the 40 years, particularly in relation to qualifications and paperwork required.

“The paperwork now is staggering, which does frighten some people off,” Mr Hein said. “But people believe in helping out the community, so we’re prepared to the put the time and effort into it.”

Four members were recognised for 35 years of service – Leslie Mulholland and Robert Gardner, from Camperdown, Neil Hedger, from Port Fairy, and Ray Polaski, from the Portland unit.

Mark Gaussen from the Balmoral unit was celebrated for his 30 years of service, while Port Fairy’s Stephen McDowell was marking 20 years of involvement.

National medals recognising 15 years of diligent service were awarded to Ronald Spokes, from Camperdown, as well as Adam Jones and Che Wellens, from Warrnambool.

Others recognised with national medals for additional service periods of 10 years, presented with clasps, included Ken Smith, from Hamilton, Robert Gardner and Leslie Mulholland, from Camperdown, and John Brewer, from Cobden.