News
End of Year Message from OIC Hutt Valley Fire Support
Submitted by IngridV on Wed, 14/12/2011 - 5:49pm.
As we are approaching the end of this year rather rapidly and Christmas is just around the corner in fact only 11 days away as I write this it is time for me to reflect briefly on the year 2011.
As we all know we had a name change early in the year from Fire Police to Fire Support which has had no impact on the role we play in our communities.
The highlight of the first part of the year was the commissioning of the Ultralight Appliance to replace the aging Ford truck. Rimutaka 4928 has certainly brought the Unit into the New Zealand Fire Service.
On Saturday 10 December 2011 the other real highlight was celebrating and recognising our employers with the launch of our Employer Recognition Programme to pay tribute for the support they give to us in the execution of our duties. We coupled this with a presentation of International Year of the Volunteer Medals and Bars to our members recognising International Year of the Volunteer on Monday 5 December 2011.
The Unit has continued to be involved in any number of community events in our response area where we like to support our community at other than emergency events.
Membership of the Unit has continued to fluctuate with like many volunteer organisation commitment of time along with other pressures in our everyday life means priorities and boundaries are set. It is important for us all to remember that it is family first, work second and the Unit third. We have had a number of well deserved promotions as we continue to develop our people within the unit and welcomed some new members.
For four members of the unit, attendance at the Ngongotaha Fire Camp was something that will remain with them for the duration of their service.
On the social side the unit has had a family barbeque, dinner at Elke’s restaurant, a progressive dinner, combined honours night and end of year get together.
We are in good heart and therefore all that remains is to firstly thank you all for your individual contributions and wish you and your families a very Merry Christmas and bright and prosperous New Year. Remember together we can achieve anything.
SSO Wayne Bedford
OIC Hutt Valley Fire Support
Celebration of International Year of the Volunteer
Submitted by IngridV on Sun, 11/12/2011 - 11:39am.2001 was declared International Year of the Volunteer by the United Nations General Assembly. They recognised the importance and value of volunteer service to social, humanitarian, cultural and economic causes, and peace-keeping. For this to happen, greater recognition and promotion of volunteers and their work was called for. A medal was issued to celebrate this and those who had served as a Fire Service volunteer for 90 days between December 2000 and December 2001 were eligible to receive these.
2011 is the 10th anniversary and it was decided to recognise volunteers again in a similar way and using the same criteria. Hutt Valley Fire Support celebrated International Year of the Volunteer on Satuday 10 December 2011 with special parade where eligible members were presented with International Year of the Volunteer medals by Upper Hutt mayor Wayne Guppy. Longer serving personnel already holding this medal received a bar to signify 10 years. The orange on the ribbon represents New Zealand Volunteer Firefighters and the blue in the centre is the colour representing the United Nations who sanctioned this award.
Friends, families and participating employers attended as this function also included our launch of the Employer Recognition Programme. Read related story
Two honours were also presented:
- SSO David Ackroyd - Gold Bar for 33 years service
- SO Mike Lock - Long Service and Good Conduct Medal
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| Hutt Valley Fire Support members on parade to receive their International Year of the Volunteer Medals | |
Learn more:
- International Year of the Volunteer Medal
- Volunteering New Zealand
- World Volunteer Web
- United Nations Website
- Volunteering with Hutt Valley Fire Support
Images courtesy of QFF Bruce Key
Employer Recognition
Submitted by IngridV on Sun, 11/12/2011 - 7:19am.Hutt Valley Fire Support officially recognised employers of members at a presentation at Rimutaka station on 10 December 2011
The Employer Recognition Scheme acknowledges and thanks employers of volunteer Fire Service Personnel who might have to leave their work to turn out and self-employed members for whom work would stop altogether. Participating employers are offered benefits such as having their brand displayed on fire service vehicles as a public acknowlegement of their support and the use of the Fire Service Employer Programme in their own advertising.
Participating employers and representatives of Hutt Valley Fire Support members were presented with certificates which can also be displayed in a prominant area of the workplace for public and colleagues to view.
Companies, employers or businesses recognised include:
- HireQuip
- Camson Security
- Gen-i
- Kiwi Rail Passenger
- Linfox Logistics Ltd
- Scott Residential Maintenance
- Messines Defence Centre Trentham
- NZ Wireless
- Safeworx Wellington Ltd
- Total Telecommunications Ltd
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| HVFS members with their employers and co-owners of businesses with RIMU 4928 displaying the newly unveiled employer recognition decals | |||
Images courtesy of QFF Bruce Key
Fire Support Roles with a Difference
Submitted by IngridV on Sun, 20/11/2011 - 1:17pm.
Members of Fire Support Units have to be able to perform a diverse set of roles:traffic control, crowd control, operating an aqua-vac in flooding, first aid, K19, landing helicopters to name but a few.
Over the past few years one member has performed an additional role: Father Christmas at the annual Hutt Valley Fire Brigade's children's Christmas party. This year's one took place on Saturday November 19.
Instead of a reindeer-driven sleigh, Father Christmas arrived in Belmont in a red fire service truck, matching both the occasion and his outfit. Laden with his sack of presents, he listened to the children's Christmas wishes and gave them all an early Christmas gift.
After Father Christmas returned to his workshop, he received a page to a house fire in Normandale where he changed from red to yellow and blue to carry out another role - scene safety, security and photography.
This was another example of how Hutt Valley Fire Support features in and supports our community. This has not been the only "dress-up" role either. Since February 2009, Hutt Valley Fire Support has also supported the New Zealand Fire Service in their Firewise campaign aimed at teaching children about fire safety in their homes. This took the form of being Flint and Amber promoting fire safety at local supermarkets. Read related story Since then a number of members have taken this role, which has become a rite of passage for newer members, at other community events which the Unit has supported including the Goodwill Express and the Midwinter Express and more recently at a Timberlea Neighbour's Night.
Hutt Valley Fire Support also assisted with security and crowd control at the Annual Fireworks Fantastic at Trentham Memorial park on 29 October 2011.
Images courtesy of QFF S Claus & Flint
Hutt Valley Fire Support's 56th AGM - 29 August 2011
Submitted by IngridV on Wed, 31/08/2011 - 6:57pm.Hutt Valley Fire Support met at the Stokes Valley RSA to reflect on and celebrate another successful year.
Invited guests were welcomed and SSO Wayne Bedford delivered his report on the year past commenting on some of the highlights:
The highlight for the Unit was commissioning of the Ultralight in November 2010 which saw the timely retirement of the Ford Truck from the Unit. After consultation with the members of the Unit the layout and equipment stowage on the ultralight was decided and a working bee held on 10 October 2010 to commence the changeover.
Promotions - 2 May 2011
Submitted by IngridV on Wed, 04/05/2011 - 8:08pm.Congratulations to the following members:
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QFF Bruce Key QFF Alex Roberts QFF Ingrid Vlieg for attaining the rank of Qualified Firefighter |
Messages of Appreciation
Submitted by RosanneE on Sat, 30/10/2010 - 3:45pm.Recently the Hutt Valley Fire Police have received messages of appreciation from the cancer kids at Wellington Hospital and the residents of Titahi Bay.
The Child Cancer Foundation sent the HVFP a Certificate of Recognition for their support and assistance with the mid winter express family day and the cancer children sent a wonderful Thank You card signed by the children. The HVFP members who assisted on the day thoroughly enjoyed themselves as did the kids. Thank you for your kind words. (see images below)
The residents of Titahi Bay offered their grateful appreciation for our role in fighting the Whitireia Park fire and safeguarding their homes on 21st-22nd Feb 2010. Thank you for the mounted certificate and accommpanying Letter of Appreciation. (see images below)
History pages about the HVFP populated!
Submitted by Anonymous on Mon, 25/10/2010 - 8:39pm.After years of waiting (and work on the part of our David Ackroyd) we've published a history of the Hutt Valley Fire Police - at least as much data as was able to be pulled together. We're actively looking for folks with memories of the Unit - past members or associated folks - who could help us with amendments, additions, stories, photos or anything else potentially of interest.
Annual General Meeting 2010
Submitted by Anonymous on Sun, 12/09/2010 - 8:24am.The 2010 Annual General Meeting (AGM) of the Hutt Valley Fire Police Unit was held on 30 August at the Stokes Valley RSA. There were several new developments worth noting:
- Noted for the record that the Unit attended 35 Calls for the year ended 30 June 2010.
- Congratulations were rendered SFP Robinson, SO Lock and LHM Joe Fraser on welcoming new grandchildren into the world recently.
- Guests included the Area Manager Peter Bean, Patron & Life Honourary Member (LHM) Mike Aamodt, LHM Joe Fraser and others. Apologies were recieved from Fire Region Manager Ian Pickard, Assistant Area Manager Bernie Rush & SSO Stu Cleland, as well as FP Foster. Area Manager Bean addressed the Unit.
Promotions within the Unit - Congratulations!
Submitted by Anonymous on Sun, 12/09/2010 - 8:20am.The Unit congratulates Rosanne English who has been recently promoted to the rank of Senior Fire Police (SFP) and also Phil Campbell, who has been promoted to Station Officer (SO). These promotions reflect on their skills and the respect which they have earned from their fellow Unit members, well done to both of you.