MITCHELL men Cliff White and Brian Waldron, who have given a 80 combined years to the State Emergency Services, were acknowledged last month with medals for 40 years of service.

Having both started back in 1975, the pair have helped fellow residents when Mother Nature was at her worst - none worse than the 2012 floods.

"I got stationed at the school, which was the first evac point (during the floods)," Mr Waldron said.

"I went with the elderly patients to the old retirement village out of harm's way," Mr White said.

When the SES formed in 1975 in Mitchell, both men had already had a taste of serving the community.

"It all came about after the Brisbane floods in 1974," Mr Waldron said.

"We were both in the fire brigade at the time and we decided to sign up."

The men also assisted during land searches, which sometimes ended in tragedy.

But they both agreed they wouldn't change a thing.

SES FACTS

• The Queensland SES is a not-for-profit service supporting communities in crisis
• All workers are volunteers and are not paid on the job
• SES can assist in cyclones, storms, floods, forensic searches, earthquakes and cliff rescues