CQU Associate Professor Errol Vieth has been awarded the National Medal for service to the Volunteer Coastguard.

Member for Capricornia Kirsten Livermore recently presented the Medal to the School of Arts and Creative Enterprise academic on behalf of the Governor-General.

Dr Vieth recalls many occasions when there have been "life-threatening events at night when the weather is foul and then trying to ensure the people are safe while keeping our own vessel intact".

Some of these involved:

- around 1am to help an injured female from a trawler crew who had been picked up by the boom line by the ankle and dropped onto the deck, breaking arms and legs in rough weather.

 - around 2am trying to find a yacht that had single sailor who was ill and unable to say where he was.

- a vessel sprung a leak late at night and sank ... there were 40 knot winds and 4m seas and even the strongest of crewmen can fall sick .. we had only 2 operational crew on the vessel and had to get people off the sinking vessel in foul conditions.

"Some of the scariest times are when lives of people are put at risk such as when a boat is close to an island and strong wind blows up ... if they are unable to start engine and in danger of anchor ripping and then the rescue vessel has to manoeuvre among rocks to attach a tow line," Dr Vieth said.

The National Medal recognises long and diligent service (15 years or more) by members of eligible organisations that protect life and property at some risk to their members.

It now includes government organisations such as ambulance, correctional, emergency, fire and police forces, and voluntary organisations such as lifesaving or search and rescue groups.

The National Medal is a circular bronze medal ensigned with the Crown of St Edward. The front of the medal features the Commonwealth Coat of Arms.