``I thought `Good Lord I've done something bad','' he said.

The news was a big shock.

Mr Lalor will get an Emergency Service Medal in the 2010 Australia Day honours list.

He was recognised for his assistance at major emergency operations, including the 1997 Thredbo landslide, where he was a task force commander and night shift controller.

His unit received 700 calls for help in Mount Druitt alone in the western Sydney storm in late 2007.

Mr Lalor is also active in the wider community in public education. He helped run Mount Druitt Hospital's annual fete for several years up until last year.

``I'm honoured someone thought highly enough to recommend me for it,'' he said.

He joined the Burwood unit of what was then known as the Civil Defence Organisation in 1969, after having been in the air force. ``Our goal was to prepare for the possibility of nuclear, chemical, biological threat. Community needs changed when it was realised there was no one to help with storms and floods.''

He has served at Mount Druitt since 1985 and became the first unit controller in NSW in 1992.

``It's rewarding being able to help those who can't help themselves and to help SES members develop as people.''

He believes Australia will become a republic but has mixed feelings.

``I have a philosophy that if it's not broken, don't fix it.''