Home » November 2018 » Currently Reading:

Meet your new firefighter

November 21, 2018 November 2018 No Comments

 I have recently moved to Martinborough with my wife Donna, and our daughter Abigail. I have transferred into the Martinborough Volunteer Fire Brigade (MVFB) from the Devonport Volunteer Fire Brigade on the North Shore of Auckland. 

I grew up in Kapiti and have been visiting Martinborough for years so when the opportunity to move here presented itself, we took it. I joined the former New Zealand Fire Service (now Fire and Emergency NZ – FENZ) back in 2009 and have been firefighting on and off as my 13.5 years career with the Navy has allowed. 

I joined because I wanted to give back to the community in a fun, challenging and exciting way. It’s been an eye opening experience coming to a small town brigade from a big city. The scope of work that the MVFB does is so much broader; car accidents, fires, rescues and medical incidents just to name a few. We also have a massive response area including Lake Ferry, Kahutara, Ngawi and Tora, and because we are further away, it can take some time for other brigades, ambulances and police to get to us and help.     

This provides us some real challenges and means we have to keep on top of all our practical skills, as we could for example, be your medical first responder until an ambulance arrives.  It’s a great group of people in the MVFB and if you are interested in volunteering, please come down to the station on Tuesday nights at 06:50pm and see what it’s all about. If you have an emergency and need help or you are ever unsure, just call 111. We will be there ASAP. 

Now that spring is here two small requests;

  1. Make sure you check the batteries on your smoke alarms. Time and time again they save lives. The sooner you can get out of your house and call us the better. 
  2. For the men of the district. Make sure your BBQ and outdoor equipment is cleaned before use. It’s amazing where small animals and birds will make nests, and that combined with your previous cooking/cremation attempts can lead to unexpected fires and the brigade joining your party!    

 

Comment on this Article:

FEATURED BUSINESSES

Sports

New golf clubhouse build, fund-raising up and running

Martinborough golf’s new clubhouse build is well under way _ as are fundraising efforts. It doesn’t seem long since we watched the demolition of the old clubhouse and now the frames for half the new building are in place with scaffolding up ready for the roof timbers. Everything is going …

Golf pro-am success _ without clubhouse

By Karen Stephens A record field of 172 players, including 43 professionals from New Zealand and Australia, battled light winds, warm temperatures and even light early-morning fog at Martinborough golf’s 2024 CER Electrical and Holmes Construction pro-am on February 1. At least that was the range of excuses for some …

Featherston wrestlers go offshore

Two members of Featherston Amateur Wrestling Club’s senior class have again been asked to join a New Zealand team overseas.  Wairangi Sargent and Angus Read will take part in the Journeymen Tournament and Training Camp over Easter in New York state.  Over the week they are there they will be …

Regular Features

News from First Church

 Many folk imagine that going to church is a bit of an ordeal, a waste …

FROM THE MAYOR

By Martin Connelly In February the local Lions Club invited me for dinner and asked …

Driving Growth and Collaboration: Martinborough Business Assn Committee

The Martinborough Business Association Committee plays an important role in fostering economic growth and collaboration …

How Well Do We Know People in our Community?

Michael Bing talks to Lyle Griffiths Michael was raised in Auckland, attending St Peters College …

BOOK REVIEWS FOR HOT SUMMER DAYS

By Brenda Channer – Martinborough Bookshop “Whether Violent or Natural” by Natasha Calder This debut …

Community Garden News

By Debbie Yates This is definitely the month of thank you. Nga Mihi Nui! We …

EVENTS

Saturday 10 February: 10th annual Citizen Science Kākahi Count at Western Lake Shore Reserve, 18km …

Recent Comments