TE AWAMUTU NEWS | 1
THURSDAY AUGUST 20, 2020
BOOKKEEPING & RELIEF SERVICES
We take care of your bookkeeping so you can get back to your job of running your business and generating profits. 20 years’ experience working alongside Accountants.
Missed Delivery? Ph 07 827 0005
It’s a real newspaper
AUGUST 20, 2020
Ph: 027 567 1930 Email: niki@everypenny.nz www.everypenny.nz
Brigade’s lockdown bonus further afield when required. Its rural character means they attend a wide range of emergencies, and there was little slowing down during lockdown. While traffic crashes dropped off during that period, training continued and brigade members responded to a raft of other incidences, including rubbish and vegetation fires, medical and rescue calls, structure and vehicle fires, fallen trees and a number of
By Viv Posselt
The Te Awamutu Volunteer Fire Brigade has ticked off a few unexpected plusses that came out of the initial Covid-19 lockdown period. Not only have they been recording a higher-than-usual level of interest from volunteers, with 10 new members undergoing training, but they are also enjoying more robust levels of health than in previous years. Both could be linked to the Covid pandemic, says brigade fire chief Ian Campbell. “At this point, we have hit our ceiling in terms of numbers,” he said. “That is because we’ve seen the highest level of interest from volunteers in probably a decade. It could be that people are becoming more aware of the roles played by volunteer services such as ours and see a real value to their community in being part of it? Whatever the reason, it’s fantastic to see.” Members are a healthier bunch, too, Ian suggested. “There hasn’t been as much sickness in our brigade as in previous years, particularly during winter. We think it’s probably due to the stringent Covid-linked hygiene protocols we adopted which have kept our members and their families as safe as possible during this time. We’re keeping those protocols going.” Te Awamutu is right up there among the busiest brigades in the country, and Ian said was the busiest in the Waikato. Its 36 members cover Te Awamutu and the surrounding area, Ohaupo, Pirongia and Tokanui, and often go
what turned out to be false alarms. “We take our resources where they’re needed,” said deputy fire chief Karl Tutty. “Much of what we do, particularly during winter, is weather-related…storms, downed trees and so on.” Training new recruits is rigorous and takes time, as national standard processes must be adhered to. Those coming on board are fully invested in the brigade, ready to give their time to
both weekly training sessions and callouts as and when they occur. “There are a lot of roles, and some of those are administrative rather than active … things like fire safety and education. A huge amount goes on behind the scenes,” said Ian. The brigade marked the end of the long lockdown about a month ago with a family evening cum quiz night. “We place great value in those
events,” said Ian. “It’s important for people to realise that we’re able to do this pretty much because there are supportive partners and families behind our members. We try to regularly recognise that family support - without it, we simply couldn’t do what we do. “It’s also important for people to remember that we’re volunteers … we are no different from any other frontline service. Sometimes that gets forgotten.”
Te Awamutu Voluntary Fire Brigade deputy fire chief Karl Tutty (back left) with some of the brigade’s trainees and crew members. They are (back from left) recruits Ben Gulliver, Clint Bester, Matt Christie, Toni Couchman and Josh Hewlett, and (front from left), recruit Kim Stojanovic-Swift, firefighter Lochie Rollinson, and recruit Lisa Atkinson.
2ND HAND BIKES 3 PAYMENTS @ 0% INTEREST We’ve been CRAZY and we have so many great Trades to Sell.
BE QUICK!
In store credit, approved purchasers only at discretion of Wilks Penny Motorcycles
PROUD TO BE LOCAL – PROUD TO SUPPORT LOCAL 2 Kihikihi Road, Te Awamutu P 07 871 3069 E info@wilkspenny.co.nz