‘Wearing many hats’ nets QSM
It was a knock at the door which first started Tairua’s Warwick Brooks firefighting career.
Now it’s to a Queen’s Service Medal in the New Year honours.
He’s been awarded the medal for services to Fire and Emergency New Zealand and the community.
Brooks was ‘‘quite blown away’’ when he received the letter informing him of the honour. He said it was a mix of feeling ‘‘surprised, honoured and humbled’’.
Before moving to Tairua in 1968, volunteering was not something Brooks knew much about.
He is man of many hats, and he found that getting involved when living in a small community was quite rewarding.
His volunteering began with the fire service in 1969 when ‘‘a knock on the door’’ asked him to help. That same year he also helped revitalise Tairua Rugby Club from a state of recess.
A decade later, Brooks had risen to the rank of chief fire officer – a position he stayed in for 25 years. He was also simultaneously chief fire officer of the Pauanui Auxiliary Fire Brigade for 10 years until a volunteer brigade was formally established.
He also spent time serving as the Tairua brigade’s treasurer and is currently their patron.
Brooks has also played a key role in Anzac Day services and parades, and organised a commemorative headstone to be erected in the main road cemetery.
Currently, Brooks is an elected member to the Tairua-Pauanui Community Board, and holds a position with the Waikato Regional Council. He is also vice president of the Tairua RSA.
Brooks said he has no plans to stop being involved in the community, even joking he did not even know how to stop being involved. ‘‘I think I’m in volunteering for life.’’
Brooks takes a great interest in the community he lives in, saying he loved being in ‘‘where the kicking, stomping and gauging is done’’ for the community.