More than 30 years of service, an estimated three thousand rescues, in excess of 2000 vessels recovered and more than 6000 people safely back on dry land.
It was these staggering numbers that saw Brisbane Coast Guard's Allan Tennent receive the prestigious title of Queensland Volunteer of the Year for 2017 – making him the first Coast Guard volunteer to be given the award.
Mr Tennent, 64, joined the Coast Guard in 1983 because he wanted to learn more about boating.
"It was like a little friendly club with just a few guys doing their best back then, now it is a high-regulated organisation," he said.
Fast-forward more than three decades and Mr Tennent has risen from the bottom of the ranks to Deputy Commodore for the South Queensland Squadron, which consists of more than 300 volunteers.
He is also in charge of training at the Manly base and heavily involved in Brisbane Coast Guard rostering.
"You couldn't get any lower when I started, but I'm sort of mid-stream now," Mr Tennent said.
One of Mr Tennent's most memorable rescues came just three years ago off the Manly coast.
There was 60 knots of wind hitting the Coast Guard boat from every direction, when over the radio another boat started to scream a mayday.
Mr Tennent said the crew were "in a major panic and had no idea where they were, all they knew was they were going to die".
After some investigations, the rescue boat thought they had a location on the vessel in trouble, and found a boat on rocks near Green Island. However, the stranded vessel had been abandoned and wasn't the one they were searching for.
After further detective work, another possible location was found about three kilometres away.
It was a case of second time lucky for the Coast Guard crew, who found the boat they were looking for suffering from engine problems and being pushed up onto Green Island.
"To say they were pretty happy to see us would be an understatement," Mr Tennent said. The four men on board were rescued and returned to dry land.
Mr Tennent said he dedicated a minimum of 30 hours per week to his Coast Guard duties and was "pretty chuffed" just to be nominated for Queensland Volunteer of the Year, let alone win.
The nomination for the top award came from a group of Mr Tennent's crewmen at the Brisbane Coast Guard, who wished to remain anonymous.
His latest accolade goes with recent volunteering awards from federal member for Bonner, Ross Vasta, and the Brisbane Rotary Club.
Mr Tennent said he "still had a few good years" left in him and had just been re-elected as Deputy Commodore for the South Queensland Squadron, which was another two-year commitment to the Coast Guard.
Queensland Governor Paul de Jersey said he was thrilled to be able to pay tribute those who contributed so much to the state.
"In Queensland alone, in the last year, our volunteers contributed 133.4 million hours of their time and passion to the community, which in real terms was worth $11.6 billion to the Queensland economy," he said.
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