RUSSELL McLennan has been presented with life membership by Volunteer Marine Rescue Mackay (VMR), for his tireless efforts.

Mr McLennan, who is squad president, was presented with his life membership plaque at a recent management committee meeting. He began volunteering with the service in 1977.

"I am honoured to be given a life membership and that someone thought I was worthy of it," he said. "That's not why you join VMR, you join because you want to help people.

"I have a great team behind me in the squad and without them there would be no VMR."

In 1985 Mr McLennan became a crew member on the rescue boat.

"I learnt a lot and I am grateful for the knowledge that was passed onto me from Bob Ford, Col Goldstone, Barrie Clark, George Ingles, John Wright, Darrell Crofton and the late John Atherton and Ron McClanahan," he said.

"In those days you never had a GPS, all you had was a 27 meg radio, a HF set, compass and a radar. We always got home though."

Mr McLennan said he would never forget October 17, 2003 when three RACQ-CQ Rescue helicopter crewmen were killed in a tragic crash off Mackay.

"I got a call around midnight from the late Geoff Henry with news that you never want to hear; the CQ Rescue helicopter had gone missing.

"Geoff asked if I could get a crew together and to put the rescue cat in the water. The next call from Geoff was the worst phone call you could ever take, my heart just sank. The helicopter had gone down into the ocean off Cape Hillsborough en route to Hamilton Island, with three people on board."