Stories were shared and friendships were rekindled at a jubilee celebrating 50 years of service by the Lake Hāwea Volunteer Fire Brigade last Saturday (November 12).

Members who have served across different time periods attended, from Dick Cotter (95), one of the founders of the brigade, to Josh Arthur (19), who joined two years ago.

Fire chief Brent Arthur said as well as being a chance to relive memories with like-minded people, the event also provided a “golden opportunity” to memorialise some of the events of the brigade’s history.

“We’re trying to get the history of the brigade together, some of the stories, the old trucks and chiefs,” Brent said. “We have got something to celebrate and we have achieved something.” 

He said the jubilee was the very first time in the brigade’s history that it had got together the current and former members and despite the changing times, the connection was strong.

“People had served through different times but all for the same reason,” he said. “The community has changed and it will continue to, but the people that serve it don’t.” 

Around 40 people took part in the Lake Hāwea Community Centre celebration, with “a couple of people having to drop off” each of the several times the event had to be postponed due to Covid-19 restrictions. 

Special moments included honouring former fire chief Christine Hewson (now deceased) with a posthumous honorary life membership; the attendance of Amber Hollis, recently named United Fire Brigades Association’s first female president, who started her career with the Hāwea brigade; and the attendance of some of the oldest members and their families. 

Between the speeches, live music, dancing, dinner and drinks, the jubilee made for “a really good night out,” Brent said.

The brigade is currently on the look-out for new members, especially people who are around during the day when there can be a shortage of people available for call-outs.

Brent said being part of the brigade - which attends everything from fires to vehicle accidents and medical emergencies - has many hard moments, but in addition “you also achieve amazing things”. 

The local fire service dates back to 1964 and it was officially recognised as a brigade in 1972.

PHOTOS: Lake Hāwea Volunteer Fire Brigade