Pictured L to R: Deputy Mayor Jonathan Larsen, with fellow Gold Star recipients Tim Johnson, Skippy Sheehan and Ant Blundell

I had the pleasure of attending the Ruawai Volunteer Fire Brigade Honours Night at the Ruawai-Tokatoka War Memorial Hall.  It was great to catch up with familiar faces from Ruawai, Dargaville and further north from my days working in FENZ Region Training in Northland.

The main event was the presentation of the 25 year Gold Star medals to no less than three dedicated brigade members for their extraordinary service.

They were -DCFO Tim JohnsonSO Anthony Blundell SFF Dennis Sheehan

The medals were presented by UFBA Past President, Kaitaia SSO Colin Kitchen.

Other medals presented were -

14 year Long Service Medal presented to QFF Scott Wallace by AAC Corey Matchitt.

5 Year Medal presented to Errol Fenney by Colin Kitchen.

The other honours were presented by UFBA Northland Sub Association Past President, Kerikeri CFO Les Wasson.

They were -

2 year Silver Bars

FF Karina Khisamutdinova - 7 years

QFF Jo Forsythe - 11 years

QFF Renee Gatehouse - 19 years

SFF Corey Hopkins - 11 years

QFF Kelvin Bristow - 17 years

SFF Wayne Robinson – 15 years

SO Lance Panoho – 15 years

SO Kris Gatehouse – 23 years

2 year Gold Bar

CFO Kevin Evans – 31 years

A sumptuous meal was served to a crowd of about 250 guests.