Hon Peter Dunne

Minister of Internal Affairs

7 June 2016 Media Statement

Volunteer fire fighters recognised in Royal Honours

Internal Affairs Minister, Hon Peter Dunne, has congratulated the seven members of the New Zealand Fire Service community who all received the Queen’s Service Medal in the Queen’s 90th Birthday Honours List.

“Their citations reveal decades of service not just to their local fire brigades but also their wider communities. The much deserved recognition by Her Majesty

is a very fitting way to acknowledge their years of dedicated service.”

“We owe them and the 12,000 volunteer fire service men and women throughout New Zealand, a huge debt of gratitude for their dedication and the work they do in our communities”, said Mr Dunne.

The seven Fire Service QSM recipients are:

Mr Shane William Beech of Te Puke. A volunteer fire fighter with the Maketu Fire Brigade since 1990, and Chief Fire Officer for the past 10 years, Mr Beech has driven the development of the Maketu Brigade from a small team with one fire appliance to a Brigade that now includes a modern pump appliance, a light rescue tender for road accidents and general rescue work, and a dedicated ambulance including medically qualified volunteer responders

Mr Mark Edwin Bentham, of Tauranga. Joined Piopio Volunteer Fire Brigade in 1982 and at 25 years of age was appointed Chief Fire Officer , a position he held from 1985 to 1995. He has had key roles in the raising of funds to purchase a set of ‘jaws of life’ rescue equipment and a second Emergency Response Vehicle for the Brigade, as well as the purchase of land for the current fire station site and building of the new station.

Mr Clifford Henry Deery, JP, of Auckland. A foundation member of the Kawakawa Bay Volunteer Fire Brigade in 1974 and has since served at every level of the Brigade, including as Chief Fire Officer for the past 20 years. In addition to emergency operations work Mr Deery oversees much of the Brigade’s administration and fundraising. Under his leadership the Brigade has maintained more than 100 percent operational staffing and is currently at 116 percent..

Mrs Sylvia Raima Forester, of Waitotara. Mrs Forester, along with her late husband John, ran the Waitotara Volunteer Fire Brigade for more than 25 years each, and was a first responder for the Ambulance service in Patea, Waverley, Waitotara and District from 1990 until 2012. Mrs Forester served as Deputy Chief Fire Officer she managed the Brigade and carried out many of the emergency medical calls.

Mr John Allan Harlick, of Tuakau. Mr Harlick has served the Tuakau community as a volunteer fire fighter for more than 41 years. He has been the Chief Fire Officer in Tuakau since 1989 and was awarded a gold star for 25 years of service in 1999. He has also overseen the running and operation of the neighbouring Port Waikato subsidiary brigade for 27 years.

Mr Graeme William Humphries, of Te Anau. Mr Humphries has been a volunteer fire fighter since 1972. He served with the Mossburn and the Te Anau Volunteer Fire Brigades and served as the Chief Fire Officer of the Te Anau Brigade for 15 years. He has received the New Zealand Fire Service Long Service Good Conduct medal and bar, the United Fire Brigades Association 25 year gold star award, and the International Year of the Volunteer medal in 2001 and 2011.

Mr Tony Scott, of Kaikohe. Mr Scott has served as a volunteer firefighter for five different brigades across the Auckland and Far North regions for more than 27 years, and as a crash firefighter at Auckland International Airport for 22 years.

Mr Scott is a mentor to other fire fighters, a dedicated fundraiser, and was a key driver of the Firefighter and Corporate Sky Tower Stair Challenges for the Leukaemia and Blood Cancer Foundation.

ENDS

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