Ōtaki Fire Brigade’s first 50-year Gold Star

By Frank Neill

Ōtaki’s Deputy Chief Fire Officer Brent Bythell has become the first firefighter in the 103-

year history of the brigade to serve 50 years as a volunteer fire fighter.

Mr Bythell was presented his 50-year gold star medal for reaching this milestone by Erich

Speck, Past President of the United Fire Brigades Association (UFBA) at a ceremony at the

Ōtaki Fire Station on 5 June.

“It is indeed a rare and a very historic event for a brigade to have a member who has served

half a century protecting your community,” Mr Speck said just before he presented Mr

Bythell with his medal.

“The 50-year service gold medal has been presented to less than 1% of New Zealand fire

fighters in the 148-year history of the UFBA,” Mr Speck noted.

Mr Bythell began his Fire Service career with the Hunterville Volunteer Fire Brigade on 24

October 1967, and served there for almost two years. He then moved to Shannon before

settling in Ōtaki.

Mr Bythell joined the Ōtaki brigade on 16 October 1972 and has served continuously since

then.

Over the last 25 years, Mr Bythell’s brigade attendance as recorded in the UFBA files was

almost 100%.

“This is the best and highest brigade attendance of any recipient I have ever presented a 50-

year Gold Medal to,” Mr Speck said.

That “gives you an indication of Brent’s dedication to the Ōtaki brigade and his community”.

Behind every successful man are also a good wife and family. “We therefore likewise pay

tribute to Brent’s wife Annie and the children, who contributed much to Brent’s success and

sacrificed considerably when brigade responsibilities often took first priority.”

The medal Mr Speck presented Mr Bythell was number 247. Minted in gold, it has eight

points and each point represents a word describing the qualities evident in a recipient.

“Taking the first letter of each word reads in Latin servimus – meaning service, efficiency,

resourcefulness, valour, integrity, mobility, unity and strength.” [The Latin word servimus

means we serve.]

“Brent, you are an ambassador of your brigade and the Fire and Emergency Service of New

Zealand, and you are a role model to the young and the old of your community.

“I am sure that everyone present here tonight will agree with me that 50 years of unselfish

voluntary community service is an amazing length of time to be solidly and regularly

contributing."

“It is a feat that can only be achieved by total dedication and by total loyalty. It is a

significant milestone aimed for by many fire fighters but accomplished only by very, very

few.”

Mr Speck also brought greetings and congratulations from the Minister of Internal Affairs,

Jan Tinette, and presented Mr Bythell with a card from the minister.

The evening was introduced by Chief Fire Officer Ian King, who noted that “never before in

the history of our brigade has someone served for 50 years”.

The Gold Star about to be presented to Mr Bythell was a “very special award”, Mr King said.

“To do this voluntarily for 50 years is truly a community gift.”

A series of speakers commended Mr Bythell on his tremendous achievement, including Fire

and Emergency Board member Malcolm Ingles, Regional Management Adviser Jason Hill,

Deputy Area Commander Gareth Hughes, the President of the Wellington Provincial Gold

Star Association, Tony Swain, and Kāpiti Mayor Guru Gurunathan.

It “really warms one’s heart” to see such commitment, Mayor Guru said.

Describing Mr Bythell’s 50 years of service as astonishing, he said “it also shows the depth

of association of the group [the Fire Brigade] – that you care for each other.

“The range of work that you do in the community to keep us safe is priceless,” the Mayor

said.

“Thank you to all of the volunteers. Thank you to all your families."

“Thank you Brent. You stand like a shining star. You stand like a totara.”

During his service he had worked with 96 members of the Ōtaki Fire Brigade, Mr Bythell

said after receiving his gold star.

“Camaraderie is our watchword,” he said

“The brigade is truly a family, working and playing together."

“Our strength is in our unity … in serving our community … and we do that well,” he said.

As well as the presentations to Brent and Annie, a series of other awards were also presented to Ōtaki fire fighters at the 5 June ceremony.

Moana Bond and Chris Temperton were presented with medals for serving five years.

Seven fire fighters were also presented with bars to the medals for an additional two years’

service – Richard Taratoa for 33 years’ service, Mike Watson for 19 years’ service, Callum

McMurchie for 15 years’ service, Geoff Warwick for 11 years’ service, and Kieran Bloxham,

Gavin LaFrentz and Mike Alderton for 7 years’ service.