Former captain of Dubbo Rescue Squad  David Chenhall was “shocked and surprised” to receive the award this month.

“It’s massive to get the recognition personally but also for the squad,” he told the Daily Liberal.

‘It’s a win-win for the squad and the Rotary Foundation.”

The award more often goes to a Rotarian, which Mr Chenhall is not.

Rotary clubs donate large sums of money to the foundation before being able to confer the title of Paul Harris Fellow. 

Paul Harris is credited with founding Rotary in 1905.

The Rotary Club of Dubbo West uses the award to recognise people who have made a “special effort” to help the community. 

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Mr Chenhall followed his father into the squad of volunteers at the age of 19. 

He served as captain for the final two-and-a-half years of his 15-year stint with the squad that responds to a range of emergencies including road crashes, flooding and trapped animals.

The squad currently comprises about 15 operational members and attends more than 150 emergencies in a year.

“You’ve got training on top of that, fundraising and maintenance of equipment,” Mr Chenhall said. 

A NSW Police officer, he called being squad captain a “full-on second job”.

“You are either on call or making sure there’s always other people on call and the community is being well served,” Mr Chehall said. 

“It’s challenging being captain because you’re in control of everything and on an operational job the decisions you make affect the end result.”

Mr Chenhall said the captain had the safety of squad members in his hands as they pursued the “ultimate aim of making sure the patient gets out”.

But the unpaid and demanding work offers its “own rewards”. 

“When you are at a scene getting someone out of a car, you help that person to the best of your ability and you respect that person,” Mr Chenhall said.

“I still talk to deceased people. I’ll say ‘Hey mate we’re just going to get you out of the car. We’re going to have to make some noise’. I treat them as I would want members of my family treated.”

Mr Chenhall has thanked the Rotary Club of Dubbo West for its continuing and “phenomenal” support including a donation of $10,000 towards the purchase of a $25,000 battery-powered combi-tool.

“It’s designed for rapid response,” he said.

“If someone is in a car and we have to get them out quickly and easily, it cracks the door open.” 

The squad largely depends on the generosity of the community to cover its expenses.