After more than four decades with the organisation, the passionate employee called it a day this week.

And, Mr Jones could not speak more highly of his relationship with Mr Walton to whom he credits being a strong mentor in the early days, a friend and an integral contributor and leader for the community's own WRHS.

"We have been so fortunate to have Barry as part of our helicopter family for more than 40 years," he said.

"He has held many roles and helped us to get the service to the position it is in today."

Mr Walton, himself, talks about the WRHS with the enthusiasm of a young man in his first day of work and with the passion grown from years of being involved in stories of amazing rescues, emergency medical situations and witnessing how generous people can be.

There are few who've ever been involved with the service who have not had the privilege of meeting or working with Mr Walton.

He was a volunteer crewperson at the beginning of the WRHS's incredible journey in 1975 when the Bell 47 helicopter flew along Newcastle beaches as a part-time voluntary summer beach patrol.

Some of his story is best told by him as he recalls the memories in detail just like they were yesterday.

"In 1992 I was employed full-time," he said.

"I then started travelling around the regions establishing our volunteer network in the Newcastle, Hunter Valley and Mid-North Coast regions, which today I am proud to say is now thriving."

But, one moment remains high on his list of memories.

There was the time he had to help a bloke out of a willow tree at Merriwa after a flood in the Hunter River.

It was the 1980s and still in the days of the "rope and ball", so Mr Walton was attached by a harness, and the pilot manoeuvred his crewman towards the stricken man.

"So then again 'the tea bag', and [the helicopter] flew me into the willow tree," he said.

"Got to the bloke, he's grabbed me... and at the same time he slipped.

"He dropped down a bit.

"Got him back up, put the strop over, gave the 'thumbs up' and we were slowly taken out of the tree."

Unbeknown to Mr Walton, watching on from the bank was a kid named Mark Donaldson.

The nation would come to know this youngster.

In 2008, Corporal Donaldson was a Special Air Service soldier in Afghanistan, when he was awarded the military's highest honour for valour, the Victoria Cross.

In 2010, he was named Young Australian of the Year.

That moment on the river bank apparently stuck with the soldier.

Mr Walton said Mark Donaldson wrote about observing the incident in his memoir, The Crossroad.

From 1996, together with Mr Jones, he started investigating the operational possibilities of a unit in the New England North West (NENW) region.

It was in 2000 that that the vision became reality when the Tamworth Service was established and the volunteer network followed soon after.

He spent 14 years in the NENW and then returned to Newcastle to be with his family and now, after 44 years, he said it was time to look at closing this chapter of his life and retire.

Not only has Mr Walton helped to save thousands of lives, but he has also been a strong driver of the service's marketing team.

He's dedicated time with volunteers, built events, spent many hours travelling to regional towns and working with individuals and corporations, explaining the value of the service and how each could contribute in their own way.

"Barry has a great faith in people," Mr Jones said.

"He's always taken great pride in the way they have contributed to ensure the Westpac Rescue Helicopter Service has been able to grow with the community and upgrade to continue to be an integral and essential part of the emergency service chain throughout Northern NSW."