But the commitment of volunteers has never wavered.

And Mr Smith's commitment to supporting volunteers and the local community has earned him a Volunteer Fire Brigades Victoria Gold Star.

Like many other volunteers, Mr Smith didn't become a firefighter for the accolades but receiving the Gold Star was a "welcome surprise".

"It came out of left field but it was nice recognition," he said.

"When I joined it was a typical little small-town rural brigade.

"Over the past 37 years it has moved into a structural-type environment with a distribution centre and rail hub set up outside town.

"There has been a big change of emphasis and our training regime has increased to learn new competencies in structural firefighting; we're no longer just a little bush brigade."

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The former brigade captain said the structural risk profile had changed and the brigade had changed with it.

"We have an integrated station at Wodonga which has been really helpful in assisting with training and our volunteer retention is good," he said.

"It's just one of those things you did when you moved into town - you joined the local CFA."

The brigade has 24 active members and 20-30 reserve members who respond to about 80 calls each year.

There have been some notable incidents, including a goods train colliding with a passenger train, the Indigo complex fires in 2017 and surge capacity support at the 2009 Black Saturday fires.

"The brigade is virtually the hub of the community in little townships, as well as an active firefighting unit," he said.

"Our little town has grown over the years and the CFA has always been a central part of it."