John Stuckings has been named as one of the recipients of the Australian Fire Service Medal - an honour awarded by the Governor-General for distinguished service by a member of an Australian fire service.

Mr Stuckings said he was "shocked" to be given the honour as his focus was not on the achievements but on helping the community.

"There's a lot of people in front of me that should have gotten it before I did," Mr Stuckings said.

"I was only in it to help the community, help the people around."

Mr Stuckings joined the Gidgell brigade of the RFS in 1980 - becoming the brigade's captain in 2005 as well as the Group Captain in 2007 - but has also held a number of roles within the brigade over the course of his service, including the roles of Permit Officer, Training Officer and President.

However, he has also served across the country, leading strike teams during the Black Saturday fires in Victoria in 2009 and serving during a number of other fire events, including the Canberra fires in 2003 and three deployments to the Snowy Mountains region during the current bushfire season.

Mr Stuckings said the Black Saturday fires was one deployment which has particularly stuck with him.

"The Black Saturday fire was the worst [one]," Mr Stuckings said.

"Villages had gone and that was devastating but the amount of life they lost there on Black Saturday, that wasn't really good."

Mr Stuckings said it was tough to see the devastation left by the fires during his deployments, with his most recent deployment to Tumut coming after the fires had ravaged the areas of Adelong and Batlow.

"When you're concentrating on your job it makes it easier, it's still not easy but it helps," Mr Stuckings said.

"The fire hadn't gone through when we first went up there but the last one it had.

"You've got to get over it very quickly and get on with the job and try and help those people... you get out of the trucks and speak to the local people and that helps a lot."

Mr Stuckings said he would not be able to travel to fight fires outside of the region if he didn't have a strong support from the staff members and fellow firefighters of his brigade.

"I've got some really good deputies that I'm confident I can leave them in charge when I go away," Mr Stuckings said.

"I've had some really good group captains as well, which makes my life and job a lot better."

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Mr Stuckings said he was "proud" to see the development of the brigades in the Coleambally area, with the Gidgell brigade going from a pair of large water tanks to a new fire-shed which opened in 2011 and three units including a Cat 1 fire tanker and thanked MIA District manager Superintendent Kevin Adams for the work he has put in developing the brigades in the region.

However, it has not just been the equipment which Mr Stuckings has been involved with improving over the years, also being involved with training many of the region's firefighters working as a part of the Murrumbidgee Irrigation Area's District Training Group and organising district exercises in Coleambally in 2007, 2008, 2010 and 2019.

"The most important thing in the RFS now is to bring up the young generation and to teach them and prepare them for future fires," Mr Stuckings said.

Mr Stuckings said it was a "privilege" to put on the uniform and one of the reasons he has continued to serve is to help the area he lives in, even working to support the SES during floods in 2012 where he took on the role of forward command.

"[It's] to help the community," Mr Stuckings said.

"But not only that - to help people in this part of the country and the friendship that's in it.

"[It's] having the knowledge how to fight fires and knowing what to do and having the privilege to serve, to put this [the RFS uniform] on."

Anyone can nominate any Australian for an award in the Order of Australia. If you know someone worthy, nominate them now at www.gg.gov.au.