Aged 83, Elsie Collins is still an active member after joining the rescue organisation on May 29, 1990.

She has also been a member of the Kioloa Rural Fire brigade since 1986, acting as a call-out officer.

Mrs Collins was presented with the National Medal and clasp for 25 years service to the volunteer organisations.

In presenting the medal and clasp, Federal Member for GIlmore Ann Sudmalis commened Mrs Collins on her dedication to the community.

Mrs Collins has served as a Marine Rescue crew member, watch officer and, until recently, operated an after hours stand-by base from her home.

She is the longest serving member of the unit and was instrumental in setting up the base and in fundraising for the purchase of the unit’s first rescue vessel.

While fundraising for the building, she operated the Kioloa base from her garage.

Mrs Collins said to be honoured at a the ceremony at the base was “exciting and embarrassing”.

“It’s an honour doing what I did,” she added.

Peter Holmes, a member of the Kioloa unit living at Burrill Lake, said it was a “great honour and a pleasure” to be presented with the National Medal for 15 years service.

Mr Holmes joined the unit on July 21, 1997 and has been a regular crew and watch officer, taking part in many rescues in the area.

He currently performs two watches per week.

In his early years with the Royal Volunteer Coastal Patrol, Peter crewed on its first vessel Else named in honour of Elsie Collins, and when this vessel was replaced by a category two vessel Peter undertook further training and continued his duties as a reliable crew member.

Wilfridus (Wido) Melis was presented with the clasp to the National Medal for an additional 10 years service.

His National Medal was awarded for 20 years service in the Australian Army Reserve.

Mr Melis lives in Batehaven and joined Marine Rescue on April 22, 2004 at Batemans Bay transferring to Kioloa five years later.

He holds the coxswain qualifications as well as watch officer and is Kioloa's Training Officer.   An accredited first aid instructor and author of Marine Rescue NSW first aid manuals, Mr Melis trains members at every base up and down the south coast.

Mr Melis told the Times he was delighted to receive his clasp and to be part of the Kioloa unit.

Mrs Sudmalis thanked him for “training others to save lives”.

During her first visit to the beach-side rescue base, she commended all three recipients and their facility.

“Thank you from the community at large - I’m honoured to be here,” she added.