LAKE Macquarie Fire Control Centre captain Geoff See is always on call to feed frontline firefighters, even if that means getting out of bed at 1am.
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As head of the Lake Macquarie base welfare team of 16, Mr See runs a mobile kitchen that is used during bushfires.
He prepares drinks including water, tea and coffee, and sandwiches and salads, to make sure crews are fed and hydrated.
Mr See worked 40 days straight during the 2013 bushfires that scorched parts of Redhead, Dudley and Catherine Hill Bay.
He said firefighters were always grateful for the food truck during those times.
"It's unbelievable," he said. "They're dying for [food and water].
"And when you're fighting a fire, you haven't got time for anything else so that's where I come in."
Mr See has been volunteering for 15 years.
This year his work was recognised by colleague Shane Simolin, of Cameron Park Rural Fire Brigade, who nominated Mr See as Volunteer of the Year for the Lake Macquarie Australia Day Awards.
Mr See didn't win the award, but he said he was humbled all the same.
"I was really proud," Mr See said.
"I didn't expect it."
■ Nominations for the 2015 Lake Macquarie Australia Day Awards close Monday, October 27. Go to lakemac.com.au/ausawards or phone 4921 0333 for nomination forms.
