New Year Honours: Decades of service to Opotiki fire brigade and the community

Joseph Sydney (Syd) Hughes. Photo / Sven Carlsson/The Whakatane Beacon

Joseph Sydney (Syd) Hughes gave 54 years of service to his local volunteer fire brigade in Opotiki, but says it is a team effort and is a service that requires the support of family.

Hughes' decades of service have been acknowledged in the New Year Honours today, awarded a Queen's Service Medal for his services to Fire and Emergency New Zealand and the community.

Hughes was a member of the Opotiki Volunteer Fire Brigade from 1961 until retiring from the brigade due to ill health in 2015.

He attended a total of 2793 callouts and 5185 musters.

He was promoted to station officer in 1981, senior station officer in 2001, and deputy chief fire officer in 2004.

He remains involved with recruitment for the brigade and is an honorary life member.

"The fire brigade is a team effort, and you've got to have a family behind that."

He said his family put up with a lot for him to do all his work with the fire service, and that it all comes into play.

Hughes said many people and organisations had helped the brigade over the years, such as the Quota and Lions clubs.

One highlight that came to mind from his years of service was when the brigade got a new fire station 10 or 15 years ago, he said.

Hughes was also involved with the Opotiki St John Ambulance Brigade from 1960 until 1987.

He was a St John volunteer at sports events and ambulance callouts, later becoming a full-time ambulance officer.

He volunteered as a cadet instructor for St John from the mid-1970s until 1987, and was a member of the Opotiki Pony Club from 1973 to 1988.

Hughes said he enjoyed working with kids and putting something back into the community.

"If you don't do that, the community doesn't survive."

Hughes was also involved with the Opotiki Agricultural and Pastoral Association for 30 years, and was a member of the Opotiki Hunt Club committee for 10 years and acted as First Responder for hunts.

He said his wife also volunteered within the community, including being an instructor with the pony club, and it was something they had both enjoyed doing.

He was awarded a Service Medal of the Order of St John in 1986.