Gold for a reluctant fireman

MILESTONE: The Kaitaia Fire Brigade's 23rd Gold Star holder Ross Beddows and his wife Bronwyn cutting their cake at Saturday night's celebration.

Ross Beddows was "coerced" into joining the Hikurangi Volunteer Fire Brigade on March 3, 1990. They were a bit short on numbers, he said, and, being a shift worker, he had the added attraction of being available during the day.

Twenty-five years later Mr Beddows was the guest of honour at a function at Te Ahu on Saturday night, where he received his Gold Star for 25 years' service.

Some 300 people were there to celebrate the occasion, and the awarding of service honours to other members, Mr Beddows saying some people would go to any lengths - one guest had travelled from Switzerland - for free beer and crayfish.

And having heard high praise for the contribution he had made to his community he had a tribute of his own to bestow, on his wife Bronwyn, who had given him her love and support for much more than 25 years.

"You cannot achieve a Gold Star without the support of your loved ones," he said, adding that he could only marvel at his wife's patience. 'Training' sessions had at times gone on long into the night, but she had always had something ready for his tea, even if it wasn't always warm, and he did not believe that she had ever deliberately locked him out of the house.

His fellow brigade members, he said, were some of the best mates he would ever have. The brigade was his second family, and second to none.

He had served under four of the best chief fire officers, including Kaitaia's late Terry Houghton and his successor Colin (Toss) Kitchen.

"Toss is a colossus in Kaitaia," he said.

"It is difficult to imagine the brigade without him, and I hope it will be a long time before we have to."

He also acknowledged members of the Ahipara, Mangonui, Pukenui, Karikari, Okaihau and Kohukohu brigades/rural fire forces, but admitted that 25 years before he had not been sure that he had what it took to become a firefighter.

"I was pretty nervous, but another new bloke joined the same night. I kept my head down for a while but they were a great bunch," he said.

A great deal had changed over the last 25 years though. The nature and location of fires was no longer written on blackboard at the station, fire appliances were more luxurious than they had once been, and and firefighters no longer smoked in the appliances with the windows up.

"No one could be prouder than I am," Mr Beddows added.

"I have spent 25 years with some of the finest community-minded people, and I am proud to be among you and to be considered your friend."

Those who paid tribute to Mr Beddows, who said he had every quality needed by a firefighter and more, and presented him with life membership of the brigade.

United Fire Brigades Association president Mark Adie said Mr Beddows, who transferred to Kaitaia in 2004, was that brigade's 23rd Gold Star recipient, and #7405 recognised nationally in 137 years. The decoration demanded a muster response rate of at least 66 per cent, a benchmark he had achieved easily with 91.77 per cent.

NZ Fire Service acting area manager Wipari Henwood was one of several who also acknowledged Mrs Beddows' contribution, as did Auckland Provincial Fire Brigades Association president Henry Nissen.

"How lucky we are to do the job we do," he said.

"It would be very difficult, probably impossible, to do that job without the support of our families and employers."

Mayor John Carter described Mr Beddows as an example of those who represented the best of New Zealand.

"I am proud to be part of this occasion, recognising people who give unselfishly to the community," he said.

"Look around the room and you will see men, women, families and friends who are the heartbeat of our nation."