Most of our members contact us through the Telecom paging network. The same system is used by emergency organisations as a way to get hold of its volunteers.
I'm currently actively involved in all emergency and essential services. I have been an active member of the Lake Tarawera Rural Fire Unit for 27 years. Other positions I hold in the community include rural fire officer/fire boss, Fish and Game ranger, lake warden and I am a member of the emergency response medical team.
I've been a justice of the peace for four years and have held numerous other community roles during the 28 years we have lived at the lake. Both our children are qualified volunteer fire fighters. Wade is also a qualified lifeguard.
Tell us about your involvement in the search at Tarawera last Sunday.
Our local fire Unit 6671 was asked to respond to a double drowning at the northern end of the lake. The response from the emergency services and the public was phenomenal and I was very pleased at how all of the organisations worked together and shared resources for a mutual effort.
In a situation like this there are many spokes required to make the wheel turn. All of these spokes are essential to keep the wheel turning smoothly. A number of spokes really stood out and impressed me and others, these included the comforting of the mother, possibly the hardest task of all.
The refreshments supplied by one of our members and his family, who kept busy supplying sandwiches and muffins, the sheer mental and physical energy put in by the other three divers.
Being a commercial diver I was able to help and assist the other three divers with the recovery of the two victims. The number of volunteers from other organisations present who gave up their Sunday to help out was impressive and I'm very proud to have been a small part of this experience.
How long have you been a commercial diver for and what other searches have you been involved in?
I have been a commercial/construction diver since the the late 1980s doing diving jobs for myself and also for a local diving company. Most of our dive sites were centred around the power stations on the Waikato River and the lakes on the Central Plateau.
Over the years I have been involved in a number of searches. This one would be the most satisfying, but emotionally, the hardest.
What sort of training do you need to be a commercial diver and what sparked your interest in diving?
Initial training in my day was centred on your diving experience and hours logged, along with a commercial medical, after this more training and hours with an affiliated diving company to gain extra experience and qualifications.
Nowadays there are a number of diving schools around New Zealand catering for these training requirements.
What goes through your mind when you are involved in such searches?
Mentally priming oneself before a dive similar to this requires a lot of concentrated effort. Preparing you for what may eventuate during the course of the dive. During the dive, and when the dive is over. The sheer fatigue and mental exhaustion experienced can become quite overwhelming. It can be a real effort to continue.
How long have you lived at Lake Tarawera and what's the attraction to living there?
People have often asked if I'm still out at Tarawera? I reply yes because I haven't found a better place to live. It is an awesome community with a real caring and can-do attitude. With its great environment, it has been a great place to raise family. Drawing from this support, I'm able to do what has been tasked of me.
If there was anything you could change about Lake Tarawera what would it be?
I wish sometimes that Tarawera wasn't such an amazing place so that I could keep it to myself. Why? Because I'm selfish.
Tell us three things about yourself that most people wouldn't know.
I'm a Simpsons fan.
Apparently I'm an untidy person, but I enjoy my chosen lifestyle.
Volunteers rock, become one.
