Fire Brigades recognised
Knuckle Hill is congratulated by Fire Service support officer Peter Holland. Photo: Supplied.
Knuckle (Neil) and Raewyn Hill were recently honoured and acknowledged at a very jovial ceremony for their 25 years of commitment and support to the Fire Brigade, both on the West Coast and in Takaka.
NZ Fire Service Tasman-Marlborough area manager Graeme Daikee and Fire Service Nelson-Tasman volunteer support officer Peter Holland presented Knuckle with a plaque, award and medal on behalf of the New Zealand Fire Service and United Fire Brigades Association, and Knuckle was also awarded a Gold Star by Bob Brown, president of the Gold Star Association. Raewyn’s contribution was acknowledged with a certificate, roses and a gold pin.
“This honour is very, very special,” said Mr Daikee, adding that Knuckle’s contribution had been “absolutely outstanding”. Mr Holland said this was proven in the tally of calls and attendance kept by the service.
“This guy has been so dedicated in turning up to community to callouts, all times of the day and night. In 2000 he turned up for 100% of the turnouts for that year. That’s incredible. Then I looked down the list a bit further. In 2002 he’d done the same again, 100% for that year. I’ve given out a lot of Gold Stars and people achieve huge things, but this has really blown me away, because when I go to 2003—another 100%, and in 2004, another 100%, and then he had a bit of a break and got 75%, and then he got another 100%. This is an example of what this man has done for the NZ Fire Service and the people of Takaka.”
Maria Polglase
