Cromwell Volunteer Fire Brigade celebrates 150th anniversary
10 October 2024
Cromwell’s Chief Fire Officer Neil Gillespie, a volunteer firefighter for 31 years, is welcoming the opportunity to celebrate the Cromwell Volunteer Fire Brigade’s 150th anniversary this weekend and to reflect on a brigade built on pride in a common purpose.
"The brigade essentially becomes part of your extended family. Your kids grow up together. Some of them even go on to become brigade members. We have great support networks through that, as well as what Fire and Emergency provide for us. We’re proud to be able to support our community. We’re a community that’s still got a strong volunteering ethic. Long may it continue."
To underscore his point, 13 people have currently registered their interest in joining the Cromwell crew.
Volunteer fire brigades have been at the heart of New Zealand communities for more than 150 years. Nowadays, around 12,000 people volunteer in nearly 600 fire brigades across New Zealand. They make up around 80 percent of Fire and Emergency New Zealand’s workforce across the motu.
They are ordinary New Zealanders from all walks of life who are totally committed to serving their communities and who frequently go above and beyond to keep their communities safe and supported. Over the last 150 years the role of firefighting and emergency management has changed, but the critical importance of volunteers to fire and emergency management, to community resilience and to Fire and Emergency, has not. The organisation couldn‘t operate without them.
A highlight of this weekend’s celebrations will be the unveiling of a classic fire truck with local history which the brigade has restored.
Station Officer Clayton Andrews led the two-year project to transform the Bedford from bumper-to-bumper black into the striking red and white livery of the former New Zealand Fire Service.
"The whole brigade’s been involved with it," Clayton says. "I’m into old cars and trucks so personally it’s been quite satisfying."
Originally a Ministry of Works truck, it’s believed the Bedford started out with the Manapouri Industrial Fire Brigade in 1976. It was relocated to Cromwell in 1980 and spent most of that decade with the town’s fire brigade. Various other adventures followed, including stints with Southland District Council, the Blackmount Volunteer Fire Brigade (VFB) and the Smiths City company, where it was used as a promotional vehicle and in Christchurch Christmas Parades.
The first rumbling to bring the Bedford back to Central Otago came when Cromwell brigade members spotted it on Facebook. "How cool would that be for our 150th?" they thought. The truck was subsequently tracked down at the Nelson Classic Car Museum. A deal was done that put the reliable runner back into the ownership of the Cromwell VFB with only 37,000 kilometres on the clock. Some $8000 has been spent on the cosmetic restoration, most of the money coming from supportive local businesses.
"We’ve had a whole lot of benefactors," Clayton says. "We couldn’t have done it without them."
Beyond this weekend’s big occasion, he says the Bedford will be used for school visits and local events "to give us positive interaction with the community."
The truck will be unveiled on Friday night at a welcome evening for past and present brigade members and invited Cromwell residents. The public can get a peek when Cromwell Fire Station hosts an Open Day this Saturday between 10am and 2pm. There will be fire truck demonstrations, station tours and interactive displays for all ages. A 150th Anniversary and Honours Night Celebration will be held for invited guests on Saturday evening at the Cromwell College Gymnasium.
Deputy National Commander Steph Rotarangi, Te Kei Region Manager Mike Grant and Otago District Manager Phil Marsh will be attending, and presentations will be made by Fire and Emergency New Zealand to mark the brigade’s milestone.
