Saturday December 3 was time for Hutt Valley Fire Support to support another one of our traditional community events - the Upper Hutt Santa Parade 2011.

Our role was to set and man road closures so that the parade could proceed safely, and advise about alternative routes for motorists and where the best viewing spots for the parade would be. During the parade it was necessary to exercise crowd control, especially when younger members of the public were anxious to take the opportunity to collect as many flying lollies as possible!

HVFS and 4928 managing traffic	OIC HVFS making sure Santa's sleigh follows the road code.

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Images by QFF Bruce Key who is also our Unit's resident Santa

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Hutt Valley Fire Support had the opportunity to support the Timberlea Neighbour's Night on 24 November 2011 by promoting Fire Safety. Flint and Amber were in also in attendance setting a fine example in escaping from fires and meeting and greeting children and adults alike. Members also manned the Educational House which served to teach the young and young at heart about safe escape routes in a fun way.

HVFS members talking to children about Fire Safety	Amber demonstrates escape methods - great example!	Promoting fire safety in the kitchen	HVFS members assemble the 'Educational House'
Flint and Amber entertain children and adults to get the Firewise message across as well as being a rite of passage for newer HVFS members who shall remain nameless!

Images courtesy of QFF Bruce Key

A parade for local All Black Cory Jane was held in Upper Hutt on November 12 2011. For Hutt Valley Fire Support this was another way for us to support our community as well as allowing the rugby fans among us a glimpse of the real Webb Ellis Trophy! The parade included the Upper Hutt Cosmopolitan Brass Band who lead the parade with "Congratulations and Celebrations" ringing out from their float, local junior rugby teams and cheerleaders following on foot with a Cadbury car bringing up the rear complete with goody bags!

Hutt Valley Fire Support's role was to provide a series of rolling road closures to enable the parade to run smoothly and safely along Main Street and Ferguson Drive and then to provide crowd control and safety outside the Upper Hutt Council Civic building as people gathered to meet Cory, get his autograph and to see the Webb Ellis Trophy. Both Vehicles Rimutaka 4928 and 4926 were deployed as personnel carriers and well as physical road blocks. Members also walked with the parade to ensure that those participating in it moved safely and in a timely manner.

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Images courtesy of QFF Bruce Key.

Attending Anzac Day parades or events is an annual event for Hutt Valley Fire Support. This year members represented the Unit at Dawn Parades in Upper Hutt and Taita and at mid morning and afternoon events at Stokes Valley and Taita in spite of poor weather. The diversity of the unit personnel was also represented in the Upper Hutt City Brass Band with one member playing cornet, at the Stokes Valley RSA where another provided musical entertainment and another member also appeared wearing the uniform of the New Zealand Army. As well as paying tribute to the fallen, it was an opportunity for Hutt Valley Fire Support unit members to socialise with each other, those from other brigades and services and the wider community.

Members attending the Dawn Parade at Taita

Rimutaka firefighters entered a car in the demolition derby at the Wellington Stockcar event on Sat 12th March. As part of a fire safety campaign the Hutt Valley Fire Support were asked if they would like to assist in handing out flyers, balloons and stickers etc. Crew one ended up in sole charge of distributing promotional material as Rimutaka 491 got diverted to a call on the way and turned up later on to watch the racing. Rimutaka's 111 demo car started off strongly making several circuits of the track before being declared K0 squashed between 2 other demo car's.

Supporting the Rotary Petone Fair is an annual event for Hutt Valley Fire Support who are present from early in the morning to early evening when the Fair is closed and Jackson Street reopened. Both Rimutaka 4926 and 4928 were on site should members need to leave to attend a call.

Crews on the morning shift assist with road closures and traffic control, including giving guidance to to stall holders and ensuring they safely enter and exit the site with their vehicles, particularly when exiting into a major intersection, where members may at times find it necessary to intervene using points duty.

While the Fair is open, members maintain a presence at the road closures but also mingle with the public and provide crowd control and personal assistance, such as advising where the alternative bus routes are running or giving directions if this is required.

The emphasis returns to traffic control and site safety while stalls are being dismantled and the roads are reopened.

The crowds of people enjoying the sights, sounds and stalls at Petone Fair 2011

This is an annual event for the Unit. Members assisted with road closures, crowd safety during the parade, and reopening the roads afterwards. This year it was also the first outing in the community for our newly commissioned vehicle Rimutaka 4928 which proudly brought up the rear of the parade right after Santa himself. Although this was in the capacity of a safety vehicle, it still attracted a number of waves from many of the younger spectators and a lot of interest from the public and Fire Service personnel alike.

On Saturday 11/12/2010 members of the Hutt Valley Fire Police Unit along with Flint & Amber assisted Kiwi Rail staff and members of the Salvation Army to collect food donations for the Salvation Army food bank from all rail stations on the Hutt Valley, Paraparaumu and Johnsonville lines. All the food collected will go to those who will find it hard this Christmas to provide for their families.

The Hutt Valley Fire Police were asked to assist at the Seaview Fire Station open day on Sunday 7th Nov 2010. Our job for the day was to assist with station security, public enquiries and distribution of promotional leaflets. The open day was a small part of a much wider promotional activity for the entire Seaview business/industrial district. A free bus service was provided to transport public around to various places of business and points of interest.

This is an annual event for members of the unit and takes place at Trentham Memorial Park. This year the event fell on Saturday October 30 and we were tasked with entry control and general security in cooperation other organisations including the New Zealand Police, Maori Wardens, Upper Hutt Rural Fire Force and Cadet Forces. The event went ahead smoothly despite instances of threatening weather.