The Bundoora resident, a former public servant, said it was particularly poignant to receive the award at a ceremony at the Flowerdale Community Hall, where much of the relief work took place.

Prime Minister Julia Gillard presented the medal last month, days after a similar Canberra ceremony was derailed by protesters. Mr Smith wryly noted that the Flowerdale presentation was a little more low-key.

"I got to have a chat with the Prime Minister over morning tea," he said.

Mr Smith said he accepted the medal on behalf of the thousands of volunteers who had given their time after Black Saturday.

He staffed the Red Cross call centre for six weeks following Black Saturday, then worked with other agencies to visit hundreds of residents in the region devastated by the fires. "Every two to four weeks we would go visiting people on their properties to see how they were travelling and to check that they were accessing available services," he said. "In the early stages some people were living in sheds. We would make sure they all had the portable showers and toilets and water tanks that they were entitled to, and any of the free counselling that they needed."

Mr Smith was out at lunch with his wife on February 7, 2009, when he first realised something was wrong. He said they could see the glow above the mountain ranges from University Hill.

"We decided to pay the bill and get out of there. Then I got home and the Red Cross called and asked me to help."

A Red Cross volunteer, Mr Smith was trained for emergency services. He was put straight on to the phones to answer calls from distressed people seeking information about family and friends. He worked from midnight to 10am the next day, listening to stories from people in the thick of the bushfires.

"We didn't really understand the enormity of it, even though we were hearing the stories," he said.