The steadying influence on the service after being part of its inception in 1975, Mr Marsh announced on Wednesday that he was standing down as chairman after 25 years at the helm.

But the 79-year-old’s experience and counsel will not be lost to the service as he takes on the role of patron as current director John Davis takes over the reins as chairman.

As then president of the Newcastle branch of Surf Life Saving Australia, Mr Marsh was there 42 years ago working as a volunteer for the service’s initial weekend beach patrols.

And he has watched it grow into a service which now services northern NSW with an annual budget soaring into the tens of millions of dollars as it completes almost 1500 jobs a year.

“The growth and development has been by far the biggest change,’’ Mr Marsh said on Wednesday.

“We have only responded to the demand, that is what has caused the growth and as that demand grew so did our expertise and our equipment.

“I’m so proud of our people because that is what it was all about – people.

“I’m proud of the unparalleled support we get from the community because it is their service, it has always been their service - they own it – and it will always be their service.’’

After starting with the service in the 1970s, Mr Marsh remained a company member, was a director from 1991, board chairman since 1992 and chair of the company’s finance committee since 1994.

He has received an Order of Australia (OAM) and is a life member of numerous organisations including Surf Life Saving Australia and his beloved Swansea-Belmont club.

In stepping down on Wednesday, Mr Marsh made special mention of his late wife, Leoni, whom he said remained in complete charge of his biggest support network until her passing last year.

“I had wonderful, unwavering support from Leoni, she let me loose to do what I needed to do,’’ he told Fairfax Media.

Mr Marsh was also strong in his support for the countless teams of volunteers who continued to work tirelessly across the regions to support and raise funds for the helicopter service.

“Volunteers are the heart and soul of any community, and they will always remain the heart and soul of this helicopter service,’’ he said.

“They are an extraordinary group of people who continue to do extraordinary things.’’

New chairman John Davis, a former chief executive officer of Sparke Helmore Lawyers and rescue helicopter service director since 2015, said Mr Marsh was the patriarch of the service.

“This is a truly historic moment for Cliff and the service,’’ Mr Davis said.

“He has made a remarkable contribution which we will likely never see again.

“The service today could not have been imagined when it began, but piece by piece, year by year, the overall service has improved incredibly.

“For an organisation focused on saving lives, Cliff has left an amazing legacy.

“Cliff was a founding father of the service but also became its much loved fatherly figure. There is a clear and direct link between Cliff’s long term leadership and our culture and the principles we live by in the service.

“Fortunately we’re not saying goodbye. I am looking forward to working with Cliff in his new role as patron.”

The service’s long-standing chief executive officer, Richard Jones, said Mr Marsh would continue his mentoring through his new position.

“Cliff has meant the world to me, he has give me and the staff the space to do our thing but always been there to put us back on track should we falter.

“He has supported senior management, and all staff, to be the best they can, and added nothing but encouragement.

“Cliff is well known throughout our network and everyone loves the old champion.

“He can sing a song, cry with the best, but most of all he loves the helicopter service and what it stands for, and the communities that it covers.

“We will miss Cliffy greatly but as patron, the first we have ever had, he won’t be far away for some advice or a shoulder to lean on.

“We can not thank Cliff enough for all he has done and achieved, and the community should also be extremely proud. I know they are.’’