My Account
The recent Manly Volunteer Fire Brigade Honours Night, held on April 29 at Gulf Harbour Yacht Club, was especially poignant because of a special award for the brigade’s former Chief Fire Officer, Shayne (Tua) Kennedy.
Before he moved to the West Coast, Kennedy had a long history of volunteer fire service at Manly – his record for attendance at trainings was more than 99 percent.
Kennedy received his Gold Star, recognising 25 years of service. Blue Watch also gifted him a Māori cloak which was hand-woven specifically for him. It includes a tāniko, the woven ribbon at the top of the cloak, that used gold thread to represent Kennedy’s Gold Star.
A guard of honour was formed by all the fire fighters as Kennedy and his partner arrived.
The honours night is held every year to recognise the hard work of brigade members.
It included dignitaries from Fire and Emergency NZ, the United Fire Brigade Association Auckland Regional Fire Brigade Association and Whangaparāoa MP Mark Mitchell.
The event was also an opportunity to come together as a unit, and concluded with the cutting of a cake and everyone dancing the night away.
Other award recipients were: Athol Conway (2 year gold bar, 52 years); Ian Thompson (2 year gold bar, 27 years); Dave Nyman (2 year silver bar, 19 years); Craig MacDonald (2 year silver bar, 17 years); Janette Baird (2 year silver bar, 7 years); Clint Robinson (2 year silver bar, 19 years); Darren Snaith (5 years of service); Jasmine Holgate (5 years of service).
The Andi Jackson/Servimus Award went to Deputy Chief Fire Officer Tony Clarke.
