A marine rescue unit for an inland lake might seem like a strange idea, but it always made sense to Jindabyne's Les Threlfo.

Les helped set up the unit more than a decade ago, to help reduce the boating risk in waterways like Lake Jindabyne in the NSW Snowy Mountains.

The Marine Rescue Alpine Lakes was the first inland unit of the otherwise coastal network and Mr Threlfo believed it helped save many lives.

"It was the state rescue board who looked at all the drownings and incidents in both Lake Eucumbene and Lake Jindabyne," he said.

"They felt that although police had vessels on those lakes, they sometimes were busy, so they were looking for someone else to take it over — to get the equipment there and begin to make it safe."

The inland crews

At the time the unit was founded in 2009, it was the first of its kind.

Les set it up while serving as a member of the local RFS and as the Controller of the Snowy River SES unit.

Now, the Alpine Lakes Marine Rescue is one of two established across inland NSW, although most still hug the coastline.

"They do the River Murray to look after all the boats and houseboats."

Hanging up his lifejacket

After 11 years of helping to establish and build the team that helped saved lives in the mountains, he has decided to call it a day.

"[Officially] in December because I wouldn't want to miss the Christmas party," he chuckled.

He plans to spend his free time during retirement with another beloved local legend, 30-year-old Dorothy the emu.

"I've been looking after Dorothy for about 10 years — my wife and I feed her every day," he said.

"Everyone knows Dorothy, she has the most photographic face in the world for an emu."