Eryl Thomas from Port Stephens Marine Rescue was named as one of 24 finalists in the awards by Minister for Emergency Services David Elliott at NSW Parliament House last Wednesday, June 24.

"The awards help celebrate the outstanding work ... by emergency services workers on a regular basis," Mr Elliott said.

"It takes a special type of person to work for an emergency service organisation, either as a volunteer or staff member."

Nominations were accepted from any of the six officially recognised NSW emergency service organisations.

Port Stephens Marine Rescue put Mr Thomas' name forward as "an example of someone who truly puts service above self".

Mr Thomas joined the Royal Volunteer Coastal Patrol, now Marine Rescue, in May 1999.

"He completed training to gain his qualifications to skipper the unit's 52 foot lifeboat," said Iain Blackadder from the Port Stephens unit.

"He now has completed hundreds of rescues as crew or skipper on countless operations and accrued over 10,000 hours of duty on our boats.

"Eryl has also contributed many more hours as boat manager and in maintenance of the unit's boats using his expertise in electronics/radio.

"Every Wednesday morning, Eryl shows up at the wharf to undertake the endless jobs needed to maintain the lifeboats. He undertakes this with a great deal of passion and dedication."

Winners would be announced at a gala awards dinner in Darling Harbour on August 28.