Arriving in his fireman jumpsuit, a buoyant Mr Abbott strode into the Davidson Rural Fire Brigade on Sunday morning where he joined the other members for the Brigade's annual general meeting and awards ceremony.

"All the boys are here," he said, greeting the men by name. Just three members of the media were on hand to capture the moment, a sentiment which reflects the Prime Minister's famously low-key approach to his volunteer fire-fighting. 

Thrilled to receive my 10yr service medal @ the Davidson Rural Fire Brigade AGM-congrats to Jason, Colin & Warren too pic.twitter.com/tmuzuMlQAH — Tony Abbott (@TonyAbbottMHR) March 8, 2015

With the volunteers all gathered in one spot, a quick yearbook photo was snapped on the Brigade's lawns before proceedings moved inside for the business end of things.

Formalities were eschewed and Prime Ministerial titles were dispensed with. Around here Mr Abbott is just one of the blokes.

"The first medal is for 10 years of service. Congratulations Tony Abbott," Superintendent Craig Geddes said, handing the Prime Minister his medal pin, before proceeding without pause onto the next recipients.

Instead, the praise-giving was left to the politicians. A task local Liberal MP Jonathan O'Dea dutifully dispensed with.

"I know we don't single any one person out here," he said, before homing in on the Prime Minister.

"He's been fighting some fires of his own of late, and he's done very well," he added, alluding to recent leadership turmoil that culminated in a failed spill motion to challenge Mr Abbott's position earlier this month.

"He sets an example, as do all of you, for the rest of Australia."

Mr Abbott's CV is well-furnished with extra-curricular volunteering, including his membership of Queenscliff Surf Life Saving Club, and his annual participation in the charity ride Pollie Pedal.

In October 2013, during his first month as Prime Minister, Mr Abbott worked a night shift with Davidson Brigade, helping with a back burning operation near Bilpinwith.

This prompted some debate over whether Mr Abbott's volunteering commitments were compatible with the demands of Prime Minister's office, with some arguing it exposed Mr Abbott and his security detail to unnecessary risk.

As the ceremony dissolved into the nitty gritty of the AGM, the Prime Minister slipped out for a swift costume change.

Suit and blue tie back on, and his firies uniform stashed away in the boot of the prime ministerial Comcar C1, he zipped away to the call of his paid job. Up next? A media appearance with NSW Premier Mike Baird in Western Sydney.