We were blessed with beautifully sunny weather for the ANZAC DAY commemorative service at War Memorial Park this year.  Thanks to everyone who came along and showed the genuine support the community has for such a special day.  The ANZAC spirit is remembering and honouring at the same time.  Though there would be much we would rather forget…we dare not forget the price of peace.

Volunteer firefighters…in the last Village News we told you that we were looking to recruit up to five new members.  Who are we?  We are among over 7,000 volunteer firefighters from every corner of the country who dedicate themselves to preventing fires and protecting the communities we live in, but there's more to us than responding to emergencies.  Our vision is to work with communities to protect what they value and our mission is to reduce the incidence and consequence of fire and to provide a professional response to other emergencies.  As volunteers we come from all walks of life and we are trained for our role with courses that cover the diverse skills of modern firefighting and emergency response.  The nature of the emergencies we attend are as varied as the people who call for us.  If you are interested in getting to know your local Fire Brigade better and are considering joining, please send an email to Steve.Hey@fire.org.nz.  We’re holding a familiarisation evening on Monday 21 May at 7pm and it would be great to have as many people along that night as possible.

In brigade news this month…nine brigade members are fired up for a cause (the New Zealand Leukaemia and Blood Foundation) and are gearing up to race up 51 flights of Sky Tower stairs in full breathing apparatus gear.  Please do help us to support a great cause http://www.firefightersclimb.org.nz/view_group_event_profile/225

Concluding word…fire is a good servant but a bad master

Firefighter Isabelle LARDEUX-GILLOUX

An installed smoke alarm that is not working, offers no warning. I hope you remembered to check your batteries and dust and vacuum all your smoke alarms on daylight savings. If you don’t have any installed, please do not delay in ensuring you have at least one working smoke alarm in your home…working smoke alarms save lives!

ANZAC DAY…we will be holding a short ANZAC Day commemorative service at War Memorial Park on Roland Road on Wednesday 25th April. Everyone is welcome. Start time 9am with coffee/tea afterwards at the Old School Building, courtesy of the Greenhithe Lions.

We are currently recruiting…since 1958 the Greenhithe Volunteer Fire Brigade has been an essential part of Village life. We can offer adrenalin, big trucks, camaraderie, training, discipline, social networks, service honours and family get-togethers. Learn some great skills, make some great mates, have some fun and serve your local community.

We are now looking to recruit up to five new members. Want to know more? Come along to an information evening on Monday 21st May, 7pm at the Fire Station. If you have any questions before then, please send an email to Steve.Hey@fire.org.nz.

In Brigade news this month, we are fired up for a cause! This year on May 19th, nine members from the Greenhithe Volunteer Fire Brigade will again be participating in the annual Firefighter Sky Tower Challenge. This involves racing up 51 flights, or 1,103 Sky Tower stairs wearing full firefighting kit. It is a challenging event both mentally and physically, but we are more than happy to put ourselves through a few minutes of pain as it gives us a chance to help out a great cause and raise funds for the New Zealand Leukaemia and Blood Foundation (LBF).

You too can support your local Fire Brigade by going to the link listed below and making a donation and/or offering a word of support to the guys who will be training hard over the next few weeks in preparation for the big event. 100% of all funds raised go directly to the LBF. http://www.firefightersclimb.org.nz/view_group_event_profile/225

Thanks heaps for your support!!

Concluding word…discretion is the better part of valor.

Firefighter Isabelle LARDEUX-GILLOUX

Happy New Year everyone!  I hope you’re all well rested and have enjoyed a much-needed summer break.  I’m not sure summer has officially arrived just yet, but it must come at some stage…surely!

A quick article this month as we start the year on a very sad note for the Greenhithe Volunteer Fire Brigade, for the Greenhithe community as a whole, and of course, for the extended Martin family.

Grant Martin was tragically killed as a result of an accident in Otorohanga on Thursday 5th January.  Grant was just shy of 50 and died well before his time.  Grant was bought up in Greenhithe and spent a large part of his life here.  The Martin family were synonymous with our community and Rex, Grant’s father was well known as the Greenhithe ‘Sherriff’.  

Rex, his brother Trevor, Grant and his brother Tony all joined the Greenhithe Volunteer Fire Brigade at various stages.  Grant served 15 years and is a life-honourary member of the Brigade.  Rex served an amazing 33 years, many as Chief, and is still the second longest serving member in the Brigade’s history.  Between the four Martin family members who joined the Brigade, they served a total of 67 years, which is an outstanding commitment to community service and to the Greenhithe community.

On behalf of the past and present members of the Greenhithe Volunteer Fire Brigade, I’d like to extend our sincere condolences to the Martin family.  We are truly sorry for your loss but are immensely proud to have served with Grant...he will be remembered.

Regular communications resume next month…all the best for a great 2012…stay fire safe!

DCFO Gareth Wallis

As part of the Get Firewise Programme delivered in schools children are made aware of what to do in case of a fire, but what about adults Firewise preparedness?  Ask your kids and hopefully they’ll tell you all about escape plans, safe meeting places and much more.  It’s a good family time…

In the event of a fire

• Crawl low and fast to escape smoke – 'Get Down, Get Low, Get out.'
• Shut doors behind you to slow the spread of fire
• Meet at the planned meeting place (letter box, neighbor’s driveway)
• Once out, stay out – never go back inside
• Phone 111 and ask for the Fire Service from a safe phone
• Tell the Fire Service the house number, street, nearest intersection, suburb and city.

Nothing can really prepare us for the impact of a fire on our family and property.  It can make us feel helpless and unsure of what to do next.  This is entirely understandable.  The New Zealand Fire Service will help you through this distressing situation and in the aftermath and give you some important guidance including:

• It is normal to feel unsettled and disrupted for a while
• You may well be able to overcome any problems yourself but don't be afraid to ask for help
• After a crisis, it is often easier to talk to someone who is not involved and is trained to listen and help you find the assistance you need
• Victim Support provides a free, flexible and confidential service – free phone 0800 842 846.

Concluding word... “Discretion is the better part of valor”.  If you say discretion is the better part of valor, you mean that avoiding a dangerous or unpleasant situation is sometimes the most sensible thing to do.

Firefighter Isabelle LARDEUX-GILLOUX

Nearly eight years ago now, our Chief Fire Officer at the time Floyd Roscoe was tragically killed in a motor vehicle accident. This was a very difficult time for the Brigade and obviously, for his family. 

Floyd was a great guy.  He worked tirelessly for the Brigade and the community.  Not only was he a volunteer firefighter, he was a sworn police officer and an army territorial.  He gave up a lot of his time for his career but he gave up even more time for the Brigade in service to the Greenhithe community.

What I realised sometime after he was gone, was that despite the fact we all knew Floyd did a great job and gave his absolute all for the Brigade, no one ever really thanked him for it.  He was our Chief and while the level of service he provided wasn’t necessarily expected, it also wasn’t really acknowledged.

Eight years on and our current Chief Fire Officer is about to celebrate a very special milestone.  On completion of 25 years as a firefighter in the New Zealand Fire Service, personnel are awarded what is called a ‘Gold Star’.  It is a very significant milestone and represents a truly impressive and selfless commitment to community service and the NZ Fire Service in general.
Simon Walkinshaw joined the Greenhithe Volunteer Fire Brigade in late 1998 after 12 years as a member of the Edgecumbe Volunteer Fire Brigade.  He has served the last 13 years with us, the last eight as our Chief.  Simon’s Gold Star is only the fifth time in the 53-year history of the Brigade that we will celebrate one of our firefighters being awarded this medal…a very significant occasion.

I guess learning from Floyd’s tragic death, I would like to take this opportunity, publically and on behalf of all our members past and present, to thank Simon for the enormous amount of time, effort and energy dedicates to Brigade.  Without wanting to blow our own horn, the Greenhithe Volunteer Fire Brigade is a very well respected fire brigade throughout the country.  This is with a doubt and in no small part due to the quality of leadership Simon provides, and the genuine passion he brings to his commitment to the Brigade.

So…thanks Simon.  We genuinely appreciate everything you do for the Brigade and you have our sincere respect for this significant Fire Service milestone you’ve achieved.  We look forward to celebrating your Gold Star with you later this month.

Deputy Chief Fire Officer
Gareth Wallis

It’s the time of the year to start thinking about other types of risks (weather bombs, gale force winds, thunderstorms, heavy rains etc.) and the recent ‘tornado event’ in Albany was a good remainder to us all that weather related risks can be highly destructive and life threatening.

Heavy rain and gales are likely to make driving dangerous and cause severe flooding.  It is important for people to stay calm and check on their neighbors (when at home) or their work colleagues.  It is also a good time to check your emergency survival kit and update your household emergency plans.  Make sure your battery-powered torches and radios are working and check the expiry dates on all food in your emergency survival kit.  An emergency survival kit should contain food and water for three days or more, a battery-powered torch and radio, first aid kit/medication, and supplies for your pets.

-        Keep things a meter from the heater

-        Do not overload power points

-        Check electric blankets are safe and turned off when going to bed

In brigade news this month, It was another successful year climbing up the Sky Tower and raising funds for the Leukaemia and Blood Foundation.  As part of the ongoing alternative water supply projects residents in Greenhithe Road and Shelter Drive have seen some brigade members visiting their properties to collect information.  And on behalf of the Brigade, we would like to extend a warm welcome to two new recruits, Nick Wells and Matthew Walkinshaw.  Both are currently training very hard preparing for their Recruit Course and have passed successfully their First Aid Course.  Congratulations and welcome!

Concluding word . . . “Every cloud has a silver lining”.      

Firefighter Isabelle LARDEUX-GILLOUX

Change your clock – check your smoke alarm.  When changing over from daylight savings did you check your smoke alarm batteries and install new ones if needed?  Dust and spider webs can also affect the operation of smoke alarms so please take the time to clean and check them at least once a year.
Events in Christchurch have caused people to be a little more mindful of Civil Defence and neighbourly support.  Though the weather wasn’t up to it on Neighbours Day Aotearora, several street BBQs went ahead early in the month when the sun finally came out.  Thanks to the Greenhithe Community Trust in association with Harcourts for encouraging the ‘Know Your Street’ initiative.
In brigade news this month…brigade members went to a live fire training course held in Whangerei where they carried out various firefighting activities in a specially set up building that reaches temperatures of over 300C.  Working in extreme fire conditions is a good way to keep our skills up and is a Fire Service requirement every two years.
The Greenhithe Volunteer Fire Brigade organised another successful Anzac Day service at War Memorial Park in Roland Road, with people and interested organisations attending the ceremony.  Thank you for taking the time to come along and spend a short amount of time remembering the fallen.
And finally this month, for the first time in history, the Greenhithe Fire Brigade WON the annual cricket match against the Greenhithe Village Store…shocking, but true!! A great day in history and well done to the Fire Brigade team!!

Concluding word…a sense of humor is a major defense against minor troubles.   
Firefighter Isabelle LARDEUX-GILLOUX

He jumped out of his car and jogged barefoot to the station.  As he passed in front of me to open the station door, something seemed different but I couldn’t put my finger on it.  I myself had just rushed out of our local chemist shop, telling my younger son he would have to walk home alone.  “What is it?” I asked as I unplugged the truck?  “Car fire on the motorway” he replied putting on his gear… 

Returning to the station 40 minutes later, we now had the time to catch up and when I saw a little trace of shaving foam on his upper cheek, everything suddenly made sense.  When the siren had sounded he was shaving and had only finished one side of his face! Being a volunteer firefighter is being taken by surprise in your everyday life, night or day, whatever you are doing!!

The Christchurch earthquake certainly took us all by surprise.  As some stepped into their emergency service roles, others took up supporting roles but all of us reached out to the rescue effort in some way.  Community resilience and preparedness are key points to our dealing with such a tragic event.  Remember – emergency preparedness and you:

• Get kitted = gather emergency supplies 
• Make a plan = develop a family disaster plan
• Be informed = learn how to shelter and maintain a healthy state of mind

In brigade news this month...most Greenhithe residents are now on town water supply but there are still a few areas that are not.  Some of those living in these areas would have seen crews of two firefighters knocking on doors as part of our non-reticulated water supply project.  Visits will be carried out over the next months to all these non-reticulated properties, to ensure we understand any relevant risks, and where we might find water near your place if we need it in an emergency. 

Remember…the closer our fire appliance can get to your property, the more efficient we are at fighting fires.  Avoid overhanging branches and overgrown vegetation in your driveway, and around your water tanks. 

Concluding word…actions speak louder than words.

Firefighter Isabelle LARDEUX-GILLOUX