Waipā mayor Susan O’Regan’s quip that volunteer firefighters should be commended “for all the half-bits you do” couldn’t have been better timed last weekend.
- Please note, this article has been corrected. Richie Gerrand received a gold bar marking more than 35 years’ service, not 25 years.
Cambridge News 10 October 2024
Speaking at the Cambridge Fire Brigade’s annual honours evening, she thanked the crew for “all the half-drunk cups of tea and half-finished dinners” left in the wake of their swift response to the local fire siren.
“It doesn’t go un-noticed, and we thank you,” she told guests, little more than an hour after three callouts had prompted many of the assembled firefighters to abandon their meal and shoot off into the darkness.
Those three callouts proved minor, but O’Regan’s later comment underscored their ready commitment to serve.
The annual awards evening celebrates the progress made by firefighters, honours their milestones and acknowledges the support of their families and employers.
Cambridge’s chief fire officer Dennis Hunt speaking to guests at Saturday’s ceremony. Photo: Viv Posselt
Chief fire officer Dennis Hunt said both the brigade and the number of calls they attend continue to grow.
“Reports issues recently by Fire and Emergency show that Cambridge is the eighth busiest volunteer station in New Zealand,” he said.
“For the year ended June 30, we had attended 359 calls. What is frustrating for us is that 37 per cent of these are false alarms relating to businesses’ private fire alarms.”
He said Cambridge had a higher number of call-outs to motor vehicle crashes compared with most other volunteer brigades. Although the installation of median barriers along parts of State Highway One have reduced the number of serious head-on crashes, the brigade still attends a high number of incidents with single car accidents more the norm.
Waipā mayor Susan O’Regan, Taupō MP Louise Upston and Cambridge chief fire officer Dennis Hunt relax before the formalities at the annual Cambridge Volunteer Fire Brigade’s honours evening. Photo: Viv Posselt
Hunt also thanked employers, local businesses and charitable associations for their continued support. He preceded the presentation of awards by outlining the stepped process firefighters take to achieve the various honours and said only two of their number – the late chief fire officer Don Gerrand (53 years) and the late deputy chief fire officer Winston Steen (56 years) – had reached their 50-year mark with the brigade.
Also attending Saturday’s event was Taupō MP Louise Upston and deputy mayor Liz Stolwyk, and Alan Doherty, Fire and Emergency NZ Waikato regional manager.
Local MP Louise Upston addresses the gathering, watched on by chief fire officer Dennis Hunt. Photo: Viv Posselt
Speaking before presenting the final two awards, Upston thanked the firefighters for the contribution they make to the local community “every day, every month, every year”.
“It is important to acknowledge the many people and organisations who make this station the great one that it is.”
The first award of the evening went to recruit firefighter Mark Oliver, seen here receiving his certificate for completing three years’ service from Waipā mayor Susan O’Regan. Watching on is chief fire officer Dennis Hunt. Photo: Viv Posselt
She presented a 14-year Long Service and Good Conduct medal to station officer Leon Vincent – a medal given on behalf of the New Zealand Government. Upston also presented a gold bar to senior station officer Richie Gerrand for his 35 years’ service.
Other awards went to Mark Oliver (three-year certificate); five-year service medals to Dion Williams, Kase Gerrand and Ethan Mckee; and two-year silver bars to Henry Whittaker (7 years), Peter Crawford (13 years), Leon Vincent (15 years), Richard Crease and deputy chief fire officer Glenn Philip (both 17 years), and Peter Wright (19 years).
Also at the ceremony were past members, life members and representatives from the police and St John.
Station officer Leon Vincent, centre, with chief fire officer Dennis Hunt and local MP Louise Upston after being presented with his 14-year Long Service and Good Conduct medal. Photo: Viv Posselt
Sharing a chuckle with the guests are, from left, chief fire officer Dennis Hunt, deputy chief fire officer Glenn Philip, and Waipā mayor Susan O’Regan. Philip had just been presented with his silver bar. Photo: Viv Posselt
Senior station officer Richie Gerrand, centre, receiving a gold bar marking more than 35 years’ service. He is pictured with chief fire officer Dennis Hunt and Taupō MP Louise Upston. Photo: Viv Posselt
