Fifty years on job
Murry marks 50 years of serving community
Murry Gillard joined Te Awamutu Fire Brigade as a volunteer firefighter on January 20, 1970 — and celebrates 50 years’ service on Monday.
And after half a century of callouts and training, attending an estimated 10,000 plus incidents, he doesn’t plan on hanging up his helmet just yet.
Murry grew up on Gillard Rd (put in by his grandfather) in Pirongia and attended Pirongia School then Te Awamutu College.
It was when he was a neighbour of Henry Spence that the seed of the idea of becoming a firefighter was sown.
“Henry talked me into it,” says Murry. “He said we need some young fellas.”
But even then he had to wait a year until Henry actually retired from the brigade — and then ‘I got his gear’.
Murry joined the same day as Greg Irwin and Peter Humphries when it was known as the Te Awamutu Fire Board.
The station was on Roche St with the town hall, police station and old schools houses.
He says they had house bells to alert the firefighter to a call, as well as the town siren, and OSH was pretty much unheard of.
“It was a pretty established brigade when I joined,” says Murry.
“There were older guys like Don Hallett, Robbie Morriss, Heck McLean and Jack Dalton and we looked up to and respected them.
“It isn’t always like that with younger people these days.”
Murry says he joined to serve his community, but there was also the benefit of being part of an organisation that was like an extended family — plus it was ‘very social’.
“The brigade also had the support of the town, especially the bosses and business owners,” he says.
Murry worked for Jack Russell Ltd and then Taylor and Jourdain in his younger years and was always allowed to respond to callouts during work time.
Apart from being a volunteer firefighter, he is probably best known for his many years in Hallensteins when the franchise operated in Te Awamutu.
“My bosses were always good about my firefighting role, and when I was manager my staff also supported me,” says Murry.
“I’ve been lucky to always have that support.”
In his 50 years there have been three administrative changes — from the local Fire Board, to the New Zealand Fire Service and now Fire and Emergency New Zealand.
Each change has brought challenges and new sets of rules and regulations, but Murry says he has stayed focused on the concept of serving his community and not let politics put him off.
He says the net result is probably a better trained force, with volunteers undergoing more extensive firefighting and medical training and also having more medical and fitness tests themselves to ensure they are up to the job.
Murry rose through the ranks and was deputy Fire Chief for 24 years.
He stepped down to let others come through and became Station Officer Operational Support — meaning he no longer fights fires, but supports the firefighters on the frontline, drives the tanker and is often the go-to paramedic.
Murry says it is still an important role and he still can contribute his skills and experience, but leaves the firefighting to the younger volunteers.
For many years he was also part of Te Awamutu elite competition team when it was known as Waterways.
He has two New Zealand titles and then also ran for many years with the B team to keep up his fitness.
Waterways isn’t as popular these day — most competitions are based around the Combat Challenge.
He says the Waterways were family orientated events, fun and promoted firefighting skills and fitness.
When he joined the brigade would go to about 80 callouts per year — now they exceed 360.
He says crashes are always the worst, especially as there is always a chance someone in the brigade will know the victim.
Te Awamutu Brigade hasn’t attended many fires that resulted in a fatality — but he can remember each one.
And he recalls some of the huge events, such as the tragic Tamahere Coolstore fire, the fatal plane crash at Ngāhinapōuri, Te Rapa Dairy Factory, Empire Hotel in Frankton and cleaning up after Cyclone Bola.
Balancing out the bad times are the fun times, the good rescues, the lives saved and the camaraderie of the brigade.
On bad days Murry will talk about it at home — on the understanding that what comes home stays home.
“It helps to talk to Joy and the girls,” he says.
Murry and Joy married 33 years ago and have raised three daughters — Michelle, Hayley and Emma.
Joy says they all understood what Murry did and why — and knew when the alarm went dad went too.
She says being part of the brigade family also taught the girls about risks and having fun, but being sensible.
The girls are grown and left home now, but still check in with mum when they know dad is out on a call to make sure he is all right.
Murry’s attendance at trainings and callouts is always around 90 per cent.
“I joined to serve the community and that is why I always attend if I can,” he says.
Joy adds that sometimes the alarm would go when they were on their way out and she and the girls knew they would head home again so Murry could help pitch in.
“It is how we lived,” she says.
Some says Murry ‘lives’ at the fire station — and for 10 years as a single man that was true, staying in the single quarters.
Even when he married he only shifted 160m down the road from the station.
Murry and his colleagues celebrated 50 years on the anniversary with a low-key barbecue.
In March there will be a larger function for his invited guests to honour Murry and the halfcentury milestone.