Mr Robb (66) was presented with his United Fire Brigades Association (UFBA) 50-year medal at a function in the town on Saturday night and was ''blown away'' by the accolades from those at the function.
He is the 100th fireman in New Zealand to receive the medal and the first from the Roxburgh Volunteer Fire Brigade.
New Zealand Fire Service Commission chairman Wyatt Creech said an effective nationwide emergency service would be impossible without volunteers. Mr Robb was ''well-deserving of the thanks and appreciation of your community'' and set a great example. After 50 years, Mr Robb was still attending fire calls, these days in a support role, as van driver.
''You've had 50 years of broken sleep, putting the needs of others first and dropping whatever you're doing to answer the call of the siren,'' Mr Creech said.
Mr Robb was recruited when he was 16. The role of firefighters had widened immensely over the past 50 years, to include attending car crashes as well as turning out in times of floods and other natural disasters.
''I didn't think 50 years took so short a time to come around,'' he said at the award function, attended by several hundred people. The brigade was a close-knit, ''very social'' group and there were lots of fun times in between the more serious work.
''I can say this about them, if you wanted something done, it was - they're a great brigade.''
Mr Robb has worked under seven fire chiefs and served 11 years as deputy chief fire officer. Chief fire officer David Rooney said the community should be very proud of Mr Robb's achievement. UFBA national past- president, Ian Lindsay, of Browns, said long service was a feature of the Roxburgh brigade, with 24 members having each received medals for 25-year service.
''During the past 50 years, Colin has been a very valuable part of the brigade, both operationally and with the great encouragement he has given other members of the brigade, especially the younger members and new recruits who have had a great start because of Colin's encouragement,'' Mr Lindsay said.
Roxburgh Community Board deputy chairwoman Helen Pinder said Mr Robb had combined his volunteer role with running a busy garage and his service was ''simply breathtaking''.
Central Otago Deputy Mayor Neil Gillespie said Mr Robb had served the wider Central Otago area, as well as the Teviot Valley, and his volunteer role typified the ultimate in service to the community.
