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Lyttelton Volunteer Fire Brigade

As I write this contribution to the final Harbour Review it’s almost exactly 6 months until the Lyttelton Volunteer Fire Brigade’s 150th anniversary celebrations. Labour Weekend will be a full on few days of catch ups, displays and formal functions for current and past members, plus anyone else keen to be part of this very special occasion.

Lyttelton has always been the only volunteer fire brigade in the country responsible for a major working port. In the early days the local topography required an xtra element of commitment and fitness. Ship fires required their own brand of resourcefulness and courage, the blazes brigade members encountered on board a vessel were often invisible or nigh on impossible to get to. The 150th anniversary book will tell a lot of fascinating tales, so watch out for it.

The first memento is already available. It’s a commemorative coin which features the image shown above, on sale from a Lyttelton firefighter near you. Just $15 with all proceeds returned to the brigade.

Before I sign off for the final time, here’s yet another example of commitment. Lyttelton is about to hand out it’s 3rd Gold Star in less than a year. Station Officer Tim Stephen will have his gold star for 25 years service presented on Saturday May 13th. He is only the 35th firefighter to earn that accolade from over 400 LVFB members over the past 150 years. Congratulations Tim.

It’s just one milestone after another this year for the Lyttelton Volunteer Fire Brigade.

Glen Walker

Coastguard

Good Things Take Time and Many Volunteer Hours

Since SailGP was announced as being in Christchurch on the stunning Whakaraupö harbour, the countdown to it and overcoming jeopardy was on. Covid was the first hurdle creating massive delays, then the weather either side of the weekend could have called the whole thing off, already stopping several of the nine countries training the