Volunteer firemen in spotlight

Three Riversdale volunteer firemen have each received a gold star medal for 25 years’ service.

Dave Hurley, Paul Stewart and Daryl Will were honoured at a function in Riversdale, along with two of their colleagues, Ewen McLeay and Gary Marlow, who were presented with long service medals.

‘‘It was an honour to get it,’’ Hurley said.

‘‘We [volunteer firefighters] all like helping in the community . . . it’s giving back to the community.’’

The Riversdale brigade, with 22 firefighters, mostly respond to vegetation and tractor fires and motor vehicle accidents.

However, on two occasions they were called to rescue a dog from a river or stream.

Stewart said the camaraderie among firefighters was one of the main reasons he had spent more than two decades in the service.

Station and training officer McLeay said there was always a need for more volunteers during day hours.

Work commitments took some brigade members out of the area on some days.

The Riversdale firefighters include a mechanic, farmers, policeman, truck drivers and a veterinarian.

Southland had 750 volunteer firefighters and there were 11,500 nationally, Southland assistant area manager Scott Lindsay said.

‘‘We rely on volunteers to help keep communities safe.

‘‘The generosity of our volunteers and that of their families and their employers makes New Zealand a safer place,’’ Lindsay said.

‘‘We’re pretty well-placed at the moment in Southland, but we’re always interested in hearing from people who are interested in helping, particularly women and people of diverse ethnic backgrounds.’’