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