CLIFF Marsh OAM, Swansea-Belmont Surf Life Saving Club stalwart and the patron and long-serving chairman of the Hunter's Westpac Rescue Helicopter Service, died on Tuesday, aged 84.
Tributes have poured in from the various areas of Hunter public life that Mr Marsh, who received the Order of Australia Medal for services to life saving, was prominently involved with.
Helicopter chief executive Richard Jones said Mr Marsh was an incomparable figure and inspired leader who helped steer the rescue service through decades of achievement. He also played major roles in the various battles over the years as the service struggled at times to maintain its government funding.
"He will be sorely missed," Mr Jones said.
Mr Marsh was a director of the helicopter service from 1991 to 2017, and was chairman from 1992.
He became the service's first patron in 2017.
Son Benn Marsh said his father was a man who lived life "on Struggle Street, Blacksmiths" and who loved serving the community.
"He loved helping people," Mr Marsh said. "He was the one always on the committees, public speaking, reading the eulogies. He just loved getting the job done."
He said his father had worked in the mining industry up until his retirement, and was personnel manager for BHP coal mines in the Hunter.
The northern district president of the Mine Workers Union, Peter Jordan, described Mr Marsh as "a great friend of the union".
"Cliff was held in high regard by the coal industry and his commitment to it, and to the safety of its workers, was instrumental in having helipads built at all the mines in the district," Mr Jordan said.
Mr Marsh said his father had been recently diagnosed with a rare blood cancer and was in the Calvary Mater Hospital at Waratah when he died.
He said COVID meant the family would be holding a private funeral.
In a Facebook post, Swansea-Belmont SLSC described Mr Marsh as an "absolute, complete, overwhelmingly dedicated member" of the club. His service included stints as captain from 1962 to 1968 and its president from 1969 to 1974
As well as his OAM, Mr Marsh was a member of the SLS Australia Hall of Fame and the Hunter Region Sporting Hall of Fame.
Swansea-Belmont club president Graham Burge described Mr Marsh as "a mentor to many, myself included, as I took the reins to steer this great club".
"Rest easy, reunited with your beautiful wife Leonie," Mr Burge wrote.
