Community members, local service club members and emergency service personnel will celebrate the milestone with the current squad and their families.

Frank Fleming is the longest serving member of the Inverell Rescue Squad and has been actively involved since the first community meeting which determined that Inverell required the services of a specialised rescue unit.

"We are all very excited that the Inverell Rescue Squad is celebrating its 40th year of service to the people of Inverell and surrounding districts," said Frank.

"The squad is affiliated with the NSW Volunteer Rescue Association (VRA) and its role is to provide assistance in many areas, such as road crash rescue, domestic and industrial incidents, agricultural, aircraft, animal rescue, searches, natural disasters and police aide.

"The rescue squad is an integral part of the local community and is called upon when specialised rescue equipment and personnel trained in rescue techniques are required to assist the community.

"Members must undergo months of training and be accredited in accordance with the State Rescue Board before they are fully fledged rescue operators.

"All members are volunteers who have committed to provide an essential service to the local community and train every Wednesday night and one Sunday morning a month.

"Members are on call 24 hours a day, seven days per week."

Frank said the majority of call outs the squad did related to motor vehicle accidents.

However, the squad can be called to assist the police, ambulance, fire and the local shire council when needed.

The squad's talents were not only utilised locally, but with the recent large scale emergencies and natural disasters, members were often deployed to lend a hand, according to Frank.

With the most recent bushfires, Frank and Jerod Sutherland (Manilla Rescue Squad) provided support to the community of Narooma, while their members were actively fighting the fires.

Frank said the current members come from all walks of life and contribute their own life experiences and skills to the squad and the various situations that they face.

"The squad consists of mechanics, a farmer, retail and service industry personnel, construction, IT/office personnel, health and care workers, truck drivers and even a police officer," Frank said.

"Since its inception in 1979, the squad has evolved from using a squad members automotive workshop in Oliver Street and using a decommissioned ambulance vehicle, to sharing a premises with local SES and RFS in Campbell Street at the then known Emergency Operation Centre and migrating to a fully Inverell funded F250 rescue truck, to owning its own rescue headquarters in Medora Street in 2000.

"The squad currently uses a Hino truck retro fitted to accommodate the rescue equipment and a rapid response 4WD.

"The majority of the costs associated with the building, vehicles and equipment are the result of local service clubs and fundraising generously supported by the Inverell community."

Frank said the most recent major project for the squad was the upgrading of the Hino truck to a current model.

"Because the squad covers the Inverell Shire it is essential that the vehicle is capable of travelling distances to provide support to local emergency services, often involving life threatening situations," he said.

"The community and service clubs as a whole have been very generous with their financial support of this endeavor and the squad has been fortunate for the first time in securing government funding to support the project."

Frank said the squad was constantly seeking new members and acknowledged the time commitment that was required to become a fully accredited rescuer.

"However, all members can vouch that the reward of helping people when they are vulnerable and in need of specialist care and services is worth it," he said.

Frank Fleming is the longest serving member of the Inverell Rescue Squad and has been actively involved since the first community meeting which determined that Inverell required the services of a specialised rescue unit.

He has been an active squad member since day one and has held virtually every position on the management committee and has been involved in fundraising since inception.

"I have been heavily involved in training the rescue members for over 20 years," said Frank.

"Prior to this, Des Clark, also a founding member along with myself, was responsible for ensuring a professional rescue squad, capable of dealing with any scenario or situation that may arise."

As with most squads affiliated with NSW VRA, Frank said all squad members played multiple roles, being not only active rescue members, but committee members and fundraisers.

"This reflects the capabilities of our members and the commitment they make to their community and its people," he said.

"Being a member of the Inverell Rescue Squad is an extremely rewarding role.

"It provides many skills and knowledge that are beneficial in everyday life.

"An added bonus of being a squad member is the camaraderie and lifelong friendships it creates."

Visit the Inverell Rescue Squad on Facebook.