Avoca residents Colin Hayes and Noel Brumfield were presented with the first three lifetime membership awards ever distributed by the brigade on Sunday.

The presentation also recognised the late Les Lambert, who was a founding father of the brigade and an active member of the Avoca community.

All three men were recognised for a combined 132 years of service with the brigade and the wider Rural Fire Service network.

The volunteers have also served the Avoca community through other groups and organisations.

Avoca Rural Fire Brigade captain Andrew Neale said the awards were due reward for hard work.

"These guys are such community-minded men, they spend their life helping in any shape or form. Be it the fire brigade or school," Mr Neale said.

"They've never had any remuneration for this work."

The awards coincide with preparations for the station's 80^th birthday celebrations in February 2020 as well as a new fire station in the next two years.

The team was looking for items from the brigade's history to take to the new station and decided a lifetime membership board would be a perfect addition.

The recognition was timely as Colin Hayes' family prepares to make a move to Tasmania in September after 107 years and five generations of dairy farming in Avoca.

The award also comes as the Brumfield family prepare to welcome Noel back home after 370 days in hospital following a medical episode this time last year.

Mr Neale said both men went above and beyond the call of duty for the brigade and their community.

"You're only a volunteer. There's no obligation," he said.

"They made themselves available for 24 hours a day, seven days a week for years."

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