Narooma Marine Rescue volunteer Ross Constable has been honoured with a Queen's Birthday Emergency Services medal for his service to Narooma Marine Rescue where he has volunteered with distinction for more than 20 years.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
Marine Rescue performs over 60 per cent of rescues in marine waters and comes under the control of the NSW Police Marine Area Command.
Over the last 20 years, Mr Constable has led numerous challenging search and rescue operations in response to traumatic emergencies, including a number of fatalities in offshore coastal waters.
"Receiving the medal was quite a surprise and very humbling," he said.
"I am honoured to receive the award but would like to accept it on behalf of all the volunteers that work with marine rescue including our radio operators who handle marine communications; our watch officers that run the incidents from a local level and the boat crews that respond at all hours in any weather conditions."
Mr Constable was praised for displaying the highest level of professionalism and leadership in his operational role as a rescue vessel master and a member of the unit executive.
The citation said, "He is highly respected for his skill and professionalism, giving his crew members confidence in his navigational abilities and judgement, even in the most unfavourable of sea and weather conditions. His training efforts in all aspects of seamanship has seen Marine Rescue Narooma achieve a notable standard of operational excellence.
"He has led numerous challenging search and rescue operations and his care and compassion for those in need is also extended to his fellow volunteers."
"It's all part of the work and it can be particularly hard on rescuers and the community especially when children are involved," Mr Constable said.
Ross has also served to protect the community through his role in firefighting management with the NSW National Parks and Wildlife Service (NPWS) where he worked as a ranger for 40 years, retiring in 2014.
Mr Constable said he was closely involved with firefighting, on the ground and in the air in his role as air attack supervisor with NSW NPWS and for the last 25 years before he retired was responsible for looking after Montague Island.
