The Hillwood man counts himself lucky to have witnessed first-hand the developments in the industry in his 81 years.

He bid an emotional farewell to his involvement in part of the state’s aviation history on Thursday when he stepped down from the Royal Flying Doctor Service Tasmania board after 50 years.

It was his passion for all things aircraft, combined with a deeply ingrained sense of community, that kept him involved with the organisation.

‘‘It was the fact I was able to meet so many people and see so many places throughout Australia and see the role of the RFDS, not only here but in the outback, that kept me going,’’ he said.

Mr Millar learnt to fly in Launceston in 1956 with the Tasmanian Aero Club. At the time, individual pilots were asked to provide help in medical situations, and would take off with little more than a map and a compass.

‘‘We got used to being out here and you’d get a call, then say, ‘Get a couple of seats out of the old girl and put in a stretcher’,’’ Mr Millar said.

‘‘We were navigated by local knowledge and the accuracy within.’’

It was decided that a more co-ordinated approach was required and the Royal Flying Doctor Service entered the state in 1960.

By 1965, Mr Millar was on the state board for the organisation, and stints on the national council soon followed.

‘‘Once you started to get involved with the national council and started meeting people, you met some remarkable people and you also met the people the service works for, so you got double contact,’’ he said.

Planes, communications technology and medicine evolved, and the Royal Flying Doctor Service – and its patients – benefited as a result.

Mr Millar’s continued passion and contribution to the service was recognised when he was made an officer of the Order of Australia and presented with a Reverend John Flynn Fellowship in 2009.

He listed receiving the awards – and his involvement in the construction of the service’s purpose-built Western Junction hangar in 1998 – as some of his proudest achievements in the past 50 years.

Mr Millar said being able to support the Royal Flying Doctor Service in helping isolated people was an honour.

‘‘These people rely on us – they haven’t got anyone else,’’ he said.

Mr Millar will continue to be involved with the Royal Flying Doctor Service.

He will be replaced on the board by George Town doctor Tim Mooney.