Mr Sealey was among 66 volunteers who were presented with 55 Long Service Medals and 12 National Medals last week- the group collectively amassing 1506 years of service.

"There's a lot of history with Jack," said Lake George Zone Operational Support Group Captain Adam Atkinson, who was also awarded a 10 Years Long Service Medal.

"He was the first person in the state in the 1960s to write a bushfire manual and it is even the basis of statewide bushfire manuals today.

"He also introduced radio systems to make communications easier."

Mr Sealey has worked for the Council, served in the Airforce, was a road engineer and a firefighter and has mentored a lot of people in his time, Captain Atkinson said.

"Jack's been involved with the RFS for 54 years, he received an [Australian Fire Service Medal] in the 1990s and he is a well respected Life Member of the brigade," he said.

"He's very humble and wouldn't big note himself, but he'd be very proud of how far we've come today."

Captain Atkinson himself said he was "ecstatic" to receive his Long Service Medal, "a long way playing with CB radios as a kid".

"I'm in my 17th year and I got roped into it by a friend, but it's a job that you either love or hate and I love it," she said.

"There's a definite fun factor involved and I like helping the community, giving something back and it helps with my own interpersonal skills- I thoroughly enjoy it.

"The Lake George Zone are a really good group of people who are fantastic to work with, know their stuff and are always on the end of the phone ready to help out.

"I enjoy working with people who are genuine, put in and want to do it, even though they don't get paid for it."