The region’s firefighters, friends and families led a standing ovation at the weekend to acknowledge 50 years of service from a very special volunteer.
Carterton brigade’s Gordon Taylor – aptly going under the nickname ‘Flash’ – received a double gold star to signify the half-century he had dedicated to the emergency service, longer than some in the room had been alive for.
The night began with a video, featuring past fire chiefs Taylor has served under singing his praises, and noting his ability to always know where the food was.
He was described as never flustered or panicked, just getting in there and doing what he needed to do.
Among those speaking were the United Fire Brigades Association [UFBA] president Amber Hollis, Fire and Emergency NZ [Fenz] chief executive Kerry Gregory, chief fire officer for Carterton Brigade Bryan Styles and Wairarapa MP Kieran McAnulty.
Demonstrating that connection in this community runs stronger than tackling blazes together, Styles said that he and Taylor’s friendship went back to kindergarten and that Taylor was the best man at his wedding.
Gregory called it a “whole lifetime of service”.
“It’s not just a bit of time, and for our volunteers right across the country to do that is so selfless.”
In celebrating 50 years of service, Gregory said it was a chance for the whole community to get together and recognise Taylor’s contribution.
“It actually brings together what service is about; it’s a significant milestone of time and the number of calls would be well in the thousands,” Gregory said.
“At the end of the day, fire and emergency couldn’t do what it does without our volunteers.”
Gregory said there are 640 stations across New Zealand, and a whopping 12,000 out of 14,000 people involved with Fenz were volunteers.
“If it were not for like people like Gordon stepping up – for 50 years – there’s no way NZ could afford to provide the service that we do.” Gregory said.
“But that’s only part of it. The training nights, the camaraderie, out in the community – it’s just incredible.”
The hero of the night, Taylor said that when he began volunteering in 1973, he was assigned to answer the phones.
“The place was never locked in those days, and the doors had to be opened manually. Calls came in on the telephone, and you had to write it up on the blackboard,” Taylor said.
“Yes, we’ve seen some changes in 50 years. We’re more professional, better equipped, safer in our working environment and more successful in our role in protecting the community.”
Quickly moving up the ranks through the years he became a force in the response team, responding to significant events like Carterton’s 2012 hot air balloon tragedy.
Also immersing himself in competitions, Taylor said he had enjoyed judging and refereeing in various championships.
“Keeping the competitions alive, it’s all about the spirit.”
With his blazer already adorned with metal badges and medals signifying competitions over the years, it was looking like there was only just enough space to clip the new double-star on.
Several people came up to congratulate Taylor and shake his hand while speaking to the Times-Age, and he said the service world was like “one big family”.
“What better job could it be, to help those in need?” Taylor asked, in the closing words of his speech.
